September 2023 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

September 2023 | LHIndependent.com

Mum’s

THE WORD

Local crafters make Homecoming bloom pg.12

New 's nasdkf;alskdew new new WilCo Sheriff Office navigating new new new p.00 deputy shortage p.8

New newTake newanew peek at new new new p.00 Smilin' V Scout Ranch p.15

New'Solar new new new The Panthers' new p.00 are new on anew roll p.24

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CONTENTS FEATURES 8 | WILCO SHERIFF’S OFFICE Lack of deputies in Liberty Hill area causing concern for officers 12 | MUM MAKERS Local crafters make one-of-a-kind mums for students preparing for Homecoming 15 | SMILIN’ V SCOUT RANCH Learn more about this hidden Liberty Hill gem 16 | SGT. WOLF’S ANIMAL RANCH LHISD police officer has own private zoo on property

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18 | FROM TRASH TO TREASURE Local business Cowboy Junkers finds the beauty in junk collected

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20 | ISLE ACRE FARMS Farming is a way of life for one Liberty Hill family 24 | SOLAR PANTHERS High schoolers have built a car that runs on solar energy 28 | LEADER OF THE DEFENSE Panthers senior middle linebacker always in control 29 | LHHS TENNIS PROGRAM The tennis program at LHHS continues to grow every year 30 | LADY PANTHERS VOLLEYBALL A trio of middle blockers lay down the law for LHHS 32 | CROSS COUNTRY SQUAD Take a look at the new group of runners for the LHHS cross country team 33 | PANTHER OF THE MONTH Get to know Gigi Mason, LHHS senior volleyball player DEPARTMENTS 7 | BIZ BRIEFS See the businesses planned or opening soon in Liberty Hill 34 | WORSHIP GUIDE Find a church home for your family 34 | SCHOOL BOARD QUALIFIERS Learn what the qualifications were to be on a school board back in the 1920s 36 | LOCAL EVENTS

Local entertainment on tap for September

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ABOUT OUR COVER

From left, senior Kaelyn Agapiou, junior Ellie Hert, fifth grader Ashlynn Caudle, freshman Kaden Caudle and kindergartner L. Caudle show off handmade mums and garters as Homecoming season approaches.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

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LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT MONTHLY

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The information in this publication was compiled with great care to assure the accuracy of editorial content and advertising copy. Liberty Hill Independent Monthly and its parent company assume no liability for the accuracy of the information reported to us herein, and the opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. For advertising rates and information, or to obtain additional copies, call (512) 778-5577 or send email to rachel@LHIndependent.com. This publication is truly a collaborative effort of experienced journalists, a professional design team, advertising specialists and many others passionate about sharing the story of Liberty Hill, Texas. Copyright©2023 Liberty Hill Independent News & Media/Liberty Hill Independent. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publishers.

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3

BIZ BRIEFS:

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS • Isle Acre Farms 330 N. Bear Creek

Latest business openings and what’s coming soon to Liberty Hill

SERVICES

What’s New?

RETAIL Water Tank Plaza 14125 Hwy. 29

Backyard Burgers

FOOD & BEVERAGE Backyard Burgers 14745 Hwy. 29 New food truck Backyard Burgers has set up shop at Thirsty Penguin. The food truck serves a variety of sliders and burgers, as well as a pork and waffles plate.

The truck is typically only open on weekends.

Old Bank Building Wine Bar 221 E. Main St., Florence A site permit to renovate the former bank building in downtown Florence into a wine bar was recently approved. The wine bar, which doesn’t have an official name yet, is expected to be completed by December 2023.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS • Mod Pizza 19388 Ronald Reagan Blvd.

• Torchy’s Tacos 19388 Ronald Reagan Blvd.

The second phase of the Water Tank Plaza is underway, with a new building currently going vertical. The new building will be a total of 6,000 square feet in size and is suited for retail or restaurant.

Swahn Studio 508 Riverbend Dr., Georgetown Liberty Hill resident Jenn Gonzales recently opened Swahn Studio, an upscale hair salon, in Georgetown. She and her husband, Ricky, are both longtime residents of Liberty Hill.

Besides full-service hair styling and blowouts, Swahn Studio also offers massage therapy on site.

GrassRoots Mobile IV Mobile, Liberty Hill GrassRoots Mobile IV is the ultimate solution for dehydration.

The business offers a convenient and personalized experience based on personal health goals.

Whether a customer is recovering from strenuous activity, combating jet lag, or nursing a hangover, GrassRoots brings the solution. A team of highly qualified registered nurses will administer a customized blend of fluids, electrolytes, and micronutrients to have customers feeling their best in no time.

Club Car Wash 13238 Hwy. 29 Club Car Wash opened its Liberty Hill location in August. The car wash offers a variety of different washes, as well as free towels and vacuums with all washes.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS • Window Vipers LLC Mobile, Liberty Hill • The Pooch Pamper Camper Mobile, Liberty Hill • Raise ‘em Up Inflatables Mobile, Liberty Hill • Invictus: An Acton Academy 10000 Hwy. 29 • Punchy Pop Balloons & Event Decor Mobile, Liberty Hill • My Apple Business Mentor

team at A. Gandy & Co. as an associate broker. Riley attained her real estate license in 2008, and her career has spanned all aspects of the field, from residential to commercial.

•

Brandy Reavis, The Hair Stop 100 E. Myrtle Lane Brandy Reavis recently joined the team at The Hair Stop. Reavis has been in the hair industry for about seven years, and specializes in curly hair, highlights, perms, color and cuts.

•

Santa Rita Ranch, Liberty Hill

The Lash Room LHTX Orchard Ridge, Liberty Hilll Liberty Hill’s Holistic Health Services Mobile, Liberty Hill

ON THE MOVE Judith Ritchie

LHTX RV Resort 224 RR 1869 LHTX RV Resort is now open in Liberty Hill. The resort offers a wide variety of amenities for residents, including a game room, swimming pool, laundry facilities, a community park, a pond, a playground and more.

Kumon Math and Reading Center 14370 Hwy. 29 A new location of Kumon is opening soon in Liberty Hill.

The math and reading center provides after-school academic enrichment to children ages 3 and up. The local center is headed up by Liberty Hill resident Alex O’Brien, who has been a teacher for nearly two decades.

Freestyle Sports 75 Seward Junction Loop Freestyle Sports recently announced it is moving from Cedar Park to Liberty Hill in fall 2023. The 4,000-square-foot facility will help kids develop basketball skills, but the ample space will also allow for indoor pickleball courts, outside turf, batting cages, food trucks and a playscape.

Judith Ritchie, Williamson County 710 Main St., Georgetown Judith Ritchie was appointed as Williamson County elections administrator for the interim while the Election Commission begins its search for a permanent replacement. Ritchie currently serves as the deputy elections administrator for Williamson County.

Liberty Tavern 3000 RR 1869 Liberty Tavern recently announced it is temporarily suspending its weekday breakfast service. The restaurant is still open for lunch and dinner daily, as well as for brunch on the weekends.

Kathy Riley, A. Gandy & Co. 111 Grange St. Kathy Riley recently joined the

Jackass Honey Farms 1426 CR 287 Jackass Honey Farms & Gift Shop has been put up for sale at a price of $1.2 million. This includes the living quarters, a workshop and an apiary on 16 acres.

Farm to Fork Catering and Meal Prep Mobile, Liberty Hill/Leander Chef Amy Schaffner, owner of Farm to Fork, recently announced she is closing her business permanently.

Loving Touch Pet Spa Bertram A second location of Loving Touch Pet Spa has opened in Bertram under the direction of Chelsea Inderman, who is operating the business out of her personal residence, much like the original location in Liberty Hill.

OPENING A BUSINESS? JUST PROMOTED? MOVING LOCATIONS? SHARE YOUR BUSINESS NEWS WITH US! Email rachel@LHIndependent.com Information gathered from the City of Liberty Hill, Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation, LoopNet, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, MyGovernmentOnline and Williamson County ESD No. 4.

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COUNTY NEWS

WilCo Sheriff ’s Office deputies concerned over lack of staff Deputies say they need more officers to make public safety a priority in Liberty Hill and across rest of county

BY RACHEL MADISON

OWNER/PUBLISHER

The population growth in Williamson County is staggering—especially in Liberty Hill, where new neighborhoods seem to spring up daily and new families are relocating in droves. With that growth comes the need for a multitude of infrastructure, like roads, water and perhaps most importantly, public safety.

But according to deputies within the Williamson County Sheriff ’s Office, Liberty Hill is grossly underserved when it comes to public safety and has been for the last several years.

A deputy with the Williamson County Sheriff ’s Office who wished to remain anonymous for concern over retaliation from county officials, said his greatest fear is that multiple deputies will be needed at a critical incident in one part of the county, and then something else will happen in another district on the other side of the county.

“If something like that happens, we have to make sure we have resources,” the deputy said. “So far, nothing has happened to the point where anybody has lost their life yet, but I don’t want it to get to that point.”

Williamson County is approximately 1,100 square miles and is broken up into patrol districts. Liberty Hill is inside two of these districts.

The first covers the entire region west of Interstate 35 and north of State Highway 29 to the county line. This includes neighborhoods in Liberty Hill like Clearwater Ranch, Lariat, Santa Rita Ranch and Stonewall Ranch.

The second covers the region west of

Interstate 35 to the county line and south of State Highway 29 to Whitestone Boulevard (RR 1431). This includes neighborhoods like Rancho Sienna, Summerlyn and Morningstar.

There are two deputies who cover the first region, while just one deputy covers the second region at any given time.

Charles Duvall, president of the Williamson County Deputies Association, a nonprofit organization that advocates for deputies and the greater community, said the deputy ratio per 1,000 population in Williamson County is currently .78. Every agency his association has compared numbers to—based on agencies selected by the county commissioners—is over 1.0 deputies per 1,000 population (see graphic on page 9).

“It’s a huge difference,” he said. “We are allotted 63 deputies for the street and we’re full right now. It should be based on the population, but it’s not. I don’t know what they are basing it on.”

Duvall said the lack of deputies is what creates other problems. For example, the overall average response time within Williamson County is 18 minutes. That number drops a bit for events such as accidents and robberies (see graphic on page 8), but is still much higher than it should be, he said.

Duvall said the Association’s ultimate goal is to get this number above 1.0.

“The total we’d need is 210 deputies for the street,” he said. “We’re not asking for all that at once. In this year’s budget, we asked for 21 deputies for patrol, but they are very tight [in the county commissioner’s office] money wise, and it costs up to $200,000 to hire a deputy and pay their first year’s salary.”

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When Duvall, who is also a deputy with the Williamson County Sheriff ’s Office, joined the department seven years ago, things were much slower and much less populated.

“Just within the last year, the calls from the Liberty Hill area have gone up 33 percent,” he said. “So much of Liberty Hill is not within city limits, which means it’s GRAPHIC COURTESY OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY DEPUTIES ASSOCIATION our responsibility.

Liberty Hill Police MUD, and they also pay taxes to the county Department will help us out when they can, for public safety. They don’t realize they’re but we are responsible for that area.” being double taxed.”

Williamson County Sheriff Mike Gleason Gleason said he doesn’t need 100 new said it’s hard to predict where the popudeputies today, but based on the projected lation of Williamson County is going to growth, he does need them progressively. go in the future, but as sheriff, it’s his role “For every home built, that house generto make educated decisions based on the ates six vehicular traffic trips a day,” he said. growth.

“If you build 3,000 homes and there are six “We are call based, and one of the unique trips from each home, that’s 18,000 trips dynamics of Liberty Hill is the developon the road every day. Who is going to work ment,” he said. “There’s a lot of houses being those zones and everything that comes with built there, and nobody has the desire to be it? The theft, collisions, family violence, the in the city—they all want to be in a MUD. runaway, the ‘someone stole my bike?’”

That means they’ll be mine for the next Gleason said he wouldn’t be surprised if foreseeable future.” the Liberty Hill area hit 20,000 to 30,000 It’s not uncommon for municipal utility homes in the near future. districts (MUDs) or whole neighborhoods “We are busy,” he said. “Nobody is in to hire off-duty police officers or security danger, but we always need more [deputies]. companies to patrol at night.

I’m proactively gathering data to show to “These places shouldn’t have to hire their the commissioner’s court, but they’re aware own private deputies,” the deputy said. of it. They’ve told me the money is like a pie, “People who live in MUDs pay taxes to their

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and there’s only so much of the pie we can have at the sheriff ’s office. So how big of a slice do I get?”

Duvall said there are county officials who have the department’s back, including County Judge Bill Gravell. Gleason is also an advocate. In fact, the Association has already endorsed Gleason for the next election coming up in 2024. However, other county officials seem less inclined to help.

“Part of the problem is (Commissioner Cynthia) Long doesn’t back us,” the deputy said. “She’s more worried about parks or roads. She doesn’t want to support us financially. Commissioner (Valerie) Covey is the same. We don’t feel like they support us.

The sheriff is trying, the (Williamson County Deputies) Association is trying, but we get a lot of pushback from both of them. They don’t understand what we do and how many calls we take and how busy the deputies are.”

County Commissioner Cynthia Long, who oversees Precinct 2, where Liberty Hill is located, said she doesn’t have any say as to where deputies are working within the county. She also said she is aware of the demand the growing population has created within the sheriff ’s department, but said it affects other departments just as much.

“We have to look at the whole big picture and make it all work,” she said. “It’s not just law enforcement creating demands on us.”

Long added that last year the sheriff ’s department, in terms of salaries, received close to a $5 million pay increase—an increase no county department had received previously.

“Given that we have 1,900, almost 2,000 county employees, and the sheriff ’s department was well taken care of last year, I don’t know what it’s going to look like going forward this next year,” she said. “But have people called into our office complaining about [lack of police]? No. I’ve not heard from citizens about that. I would be concerned if I had a bunch of people calling in saying ‘I need more,’ but that hasn’t happened. By and large, most people that are moving here appear to be abiding by the law.”

The deputy agreed it was much needed and well received when the county commissioners voted to increase the sheriff ’s department’s pay last year, but that’s because it had been the lowest paid department in the county for years.

“We were so far behind, we weren’t competitive,” the deputy said. “We did a study of our competitors to see where their pay was it, and we put ours at the median and added 2 percent. We’re happy that we’re making money at a competitive rate, but we need people. It’s very stressful when we don’t have backup for calls, or when our backup is always 20 to 25 minutes away. We just need help.”

COUNTY NEWS

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY DEPUTIES ASSOCIATION

The deputy added that he has called people back who have reported minor issues just to tell them a deputy won’t be able to come check on them for a couple of hours, which is something he doesn’t enjoy doing, especially when citizens are concerned for their safety.

“It may seem like a small problem, but to the citizens affected, it means a lot,” the deputy said. “If they request a deputy to come to their home, they should be able to have that.”

Ultimately, deputies within the sheriff ’s department just want more help to enhance the public safety in Liberty Hill and across

the county. “[Long] has not had our back in a few years,” the deputy said. “We just need people in there who support us. We’re not asking for anything crazy. We just need more people to help. We understand we are taxpayer funded, so we’re not going to just spend money crazily.

But with the way this county is growing, we need support.”

Overall, Duvall put it simply: “The cost is worth it to have better public safety.”

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COMMUNITY

Homecoming in bloom Local makers create one-of-a-kind mums for time-honored Texas tradition

BY RACHEL MADISON

making them every year since then. Caudle has been running Texas Mums and More for the last three years, selling 60 her first year It’s Homecoming season in Liberty Hill, and and just over 150 last year. Though they both that means mum’s the word—literally. From operate their own separate businesses, they now until Homecoming weekend at Liberty enjoy bouncing ideas off each other, and even Hill High School at the end of this month, held a mum making class together for the children and teens across the Liberty Hill community last month.

Independent School District are planning, Mums are a way for students to show preparing and having their mums created by their school spirit as well as their individual those who do it best: crafters. interests. Many parents choose to have mums Two such crafters are Megan Caudle and made for their kids, or groups of friends will Kimberly Walsh, both Liberty Hill residents exchange them, or if a student has a date to who have always had a passion for crafting and the Homecoming dance, it’s customary for creating. Both have been making mums since girls to get a mum from their date, and boys to they were in high school—at first for themget a garter from theirs. selves and later on for friends and family— Senior mums are typically white and gold and now they each have their own respective or white and silver and are bigger and more businesses. Caudle owns and operates Texas intricate than mums for any other grade. In Mums and More, and Walsh owns and operLHISD, elementary students are allowed to ates Flippity Flair. wear mums, too, as long they follow certain Walsh started Flippity Flair in 2020 and parameters that keep them from distracting made 100 mums that season. She’s been others during the school day.

“Liberty Hill and Hutto are the only school districts in our area that have just one mascot,” Caudle said.

“No other school district is like that, so I’ve gotten orders for every age. I’ve even made a mum for a 2-year-old.”

While most of their orders come from students within LHISD, they both make mums for schools in other nearby cities, like Leander and Cedar Park.

“I made for 15 different schools last year,” Walsh said, while Caudle made mums for four different schools.

Walsh said it takes about 14 hours to make a standard size mum, and being creative is key.

“So much of mum making is custom,” she said. “You don’t want them to look the same, This mum, made my Megan Caudle of Texas Mums and More, shows a variety of especially when you are different techniques, including braided ribbon, a lighted flower and personalized using the same colors for trinkets. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON the same school.”

OWNER/PUBLISHER

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Kimberly Walsh, of Flippity Flair, and Megan Caudle, of Texas Mums and More, create intricate, unique mums for students in Liberty Hill and beyond. Most of their mums take them at least 14 hours to make.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON Caudle and Walsh said the cost for mums is a wide range, based on how detailed a customer wants their mum to be. Mums can cost anywhere from $20 up to $400 plus.

“The first question we always ask is, ‘What’s your budget?’” Caudle said. “It’s a very time-consuming process and the cost depends on what you want on it. If you give us more freedom to create your mum, you’ll get a better product, because we can use your budget to make it as pretty as we can.”

Caudle added that as a crafter, she’s able to purchase mum supplies at wholesale prices, which are at much better rates than what is found at traditional craft stores.

Though Homecoming season is a short window of time—this year it ranges from Sept.

9 to Oct. 20 in Central Texas—both Walsh and Caudle spend most of the year planning and preparing for mum season.

“From July until November the whole house is glitter and feathers,” Walsh said. “After my last Homecoming, I close my craft room door and don’t open it again until January 1. But then on January 1, I start prepping for the next year. I’ll be making braided ribbon by May and start taking pre-orders by July.

Both Caudle and Walsh will make mums up until the day they are needed—and have even used the school pick-up line as an opportu-

nity to braid ribbon while they wait for their children to be released from school.

“I don’t stop taking orders until I can’t take them anymore,” Caudle said. “Last year I took orders the day of. My goal is for every kid who wants a mum should have one.”

Mums are a fun Homecoming tradition, but for Caudle and Walsh, they’re a lot more than just that.

“We like to share our love for mum making,” Walsh said.

Caudle added that seeing her customers’ faces when they come to pick up their orders is the best part of the job.

“It’s really rewarding to see them wearing them at school,” Caudle said. “There are some kids that I’ve made their mums for all four years of high school, and it’s really cool to see.”

Both crafters are taking orders for mums up until LHHS’s Homecoming. Walsh can be reached at flippityflair@gmail.com and online on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok under the name Flippity Flair.

Caudle can be reached at texasmumsandmore@gmail.com, and online on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok under the name Texas Mums and More. Caudle’s mums are also being sold this season at Get Dressed Marketplace in Liberty Hill and Cedar Park Florist.

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Keeping scouting alive with a little help

COMMUNITY

Smilin’ V Ranch depends on donations, volunteers

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

On the outskirts of Liberty Hill there exists a place where young people can go to truly break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and connect with the outdoors.

Smilin’ V Scout Ranch is a 91-acre parcel of land owned and run by the Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America that serves over 4,000 participants on an annual basis as a mecca for those seeking an outdoors experience.

According to CAC Executive Board member Ron Garland, that’s exactly the idea.

“We want kids and their parents to be able to come out here and enjoy something different than what they’re used to at home,” said Garland. “Our goal is to create that opportunity.”

However, with plans to expand in the near future to have the ability to offer even more people the chance to get back to basics, the CAC needs help in the form of donations and volunteers, said CAC lead ranger PJ Brown, who manages Smilin’ V along with six other properties under the council’s jurisdiction.

“We have a lot of ground to cover and can always use some help,” he said. “Even things like manual labor like clearing brush, but also skilled labor for things like plumbing,

carpentry and electricity.”

Garland is part of an advocacy group whose objective is creating awareness of the ranch’s value, hence the need for community support to help with the many projects that are currently on the drawing board – including a centerpiece known “Main Street,” which will be designed to replicate a trip back in time, he said.

“We want it to remind people of an old western town that captures the aura of the Old West,” said Garland. “Envision an 8-year-old boy or girl and how their eyes would light up at the sight of something like that.”

Plans include a sport shooting range and other attractions that will provide youth the chance to engage in activities outside of the ordinary.

However, the most valuable aspect of the entire concept is the fact all of it is meant to be experienced as a family, said Garland.

“So then, that boy or girl can say to their parents, ‘Hey, guess what Mom and Dad? I’m going to a ranch where I can shoot bows and arrows and go fishing and all kinds of other stuff and you’re coming with me,’” he said. “Entire families can experience this together.”

Shea Mackin is a Cub Scouts program ranger who has seen this kind powerful connection forged with her own eyes.

“It was the end of the day and I was walk-

One of the most notable features of Smilin’ V Scout Ranch is known as “Treasure Island,” which can be accessed via a wooden bridge going over a pond that can be utilized for fishing. PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

An advocacy group for Smilin’ V Scout Ranch hosts and attends events to raise awareness of the need for donations and volunteers to keep the 91-acre site up and running. PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

once they get out here, they love it.” ing to my car to leave when I saw a young At a recent event held in the ranch’s the boy with his mother who was crying,” said main pavilion, community members were Mackin, who has been involved with scoutinvited to get a taste of what Smilin’ V has to ing for 20 years and has three sons that have offer during which Garland delivered an inachieved the rank of Eagle Scout. “At first, I formative presentation of future plans and though he might’ve been hurt or something, said the response from those in attendance but it turns out he was so sad because it was was overwhelmingly positive. time to leave and he didn’t want to.”

“We know there are a lot of people out According to Mackin, even as a parent there who want to help,” he said. “Which is her life was heavily impacted by the power why we have an advocacy group – it makes of the wilderness and the positive effect it a huge difference to help others see the can have. vision we have for this place and gives us the “I remember the first big event I came to ability to raise money.” out here,” said Mackin. “There was all kinds of things going on like kids shooting model rockets, fishing, archery and arts and crafts – things I didn’t know anything about at the time – but I didn’t really need to know. Just being outdoors with my kids changed my life and my perspective because it really makes you realize what’s important.”

Brown oversees all seven of the CAC’s properties across 15 different counties, but actually lives at Smilin’ V, so he knows firsthand the massive task of keeping the grounds usable, he said.

“A ranger’s work is never done,” said Brown. “My days begin early and end late.”

Despite the impact technology has had on modern-day society, Brown believes nature has just as strong an allure to the average person as ever.

“Let’s face it – we live in a digital Smilin’ V Scout Ranch is located just off County Road age,” he said. “But, people still have 285 in Liberty Hill. a desire to get outdoors. Sometimes PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH they might need a kick to do it, but

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

15

COMMUNITY

Sgt. Wolf ’s Animal Ranch School district police officer has private zoo on property

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Most people know Sgt. Jason Wolf more for who he usually has alongside him while on duty as an officer with the Liberty Hill Independent School District Police Department – his faithful K9 partner Nosek, the lovable Belgian Malinois he’s become synonymous with.

However, upon returning home each day, Wolf finds himself surrounded by a collection of various four-legged friends a small zoo would be proud to have on display.

In all, Wolf houses 20 animals on his six-acre spread, which means Nosek has plenty of company after a hard day’s work of patrolling the campuses of Liberty Hill ISD. Twelve dogs, a longhorn bull, a female cow and her calf, a miniature horse and donkey, four goats, a pig and a llama round out the roster of the Wolf ranch.

According to Wolf – who grew up around

animals on a ranch in Thrall – he’s not necessarily surprised at the volume of critters he’s collected since moving to Liberty Hill four years ago, but wife Kate is a different story altogether.

“I’ve said to her, ‘I bet you never thought growing up in north Austin someday you would have so many animals,’” said Wolf.

“Her answer is always ‘no.’”

Eighty percent of Wolf’s animals are rescues, which is no coincidence, he said.

“Here they have a good life,” said Wolf.

“Who knows what their lives would’ve been like if we hadn’t rescued them.”

Meeting the crew

Most intimidating of the pack is Goose, a longhorn bull whose symetrically-perfect trademark horns make getting close to the massive animal challenging, although once breaking through that security system, one can make quick friends with a scratch behind those same horns.

Sgt. Jason Wolf of the Liberty Hill Independent School District Police Department has 20 animals on his ranch, including Dolly the Cow. PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3

of who this visitor to their territory might be.

Of course, the great equalizer is to have a bucket filled with treats to spread along the dusty ground, which signals all is well – and

COMMUNITY al-of-the-fittest thing and I had to tube-feed him because he was too weak to eat on his own. After two days, I could use a syringe until he could drink out of a bottle.”

Getting along

Goose is a longhorn bull who enjoys scratches behind his fearsome horns – if he lets you close enough.

PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

tasty.

Next up is a visit to the custom kennel Wolf and his father built to house four of the dogs on the property and the first thing one notices upon entering is the sound of music.

“We keep it playing around the clock,” said Wolf. “It’s just noise to them, but they seem to like it.”

Of all the ranch’s residents, though, the most personable is Craig, a llama that will saddle right up beside you and even attempt

upset, he’ll spit at you.”

Four-legged fellowship

One thing all his animals have in common, though, isn’t necessarily different from their two-legged counterparts.

“All of them are herd animals – even though it’s a mixture of different species,” said Wolf. “So, they don’t do very well alone.”

Nosek has an enclosure all to himself, as well as the other two working dogs Wolf

“All of them are herd animals – even though it’s a mixture of different species. They don’t do very well alone.”

LHISD Police Sargeant Jason Wolf to lick one’s face in a gesture of affection – one befitting the star of the show, said Wolf.

“Our neighbors will be out for a walk passing by on the street out front and walk up to the fence, call his name and he’ll run right over,” he said. “He definitely has the biggest personality.”

Part of the novelty is due to the rarity of his kind in these parts, said Wolf.

“Everywhere you go in Texas, you see cattle and horses,” he said. “But, it’s not every day people get to see a llama.”

Indeed, the species is native to South America, which means it can easily survive in the triple-digit summer temperatures of Central Texas and on this hot, dry, dusty August afternoon, Craig is feeling particularly frisky in welcoming a new face to the premises.

All good – just stay on his good side, said Wolf.

“Just like a camel,” he said. “If he gets

has – an Italian Mastiff named Venom and a second Belgian Malinois named Nyx. This trio gets a special diet due to their rather elite status in the food chain, said Wolf.

“Because they’re all working dogs, we have to watch what they eat,” he said. “Kind of like with people – most of us can get by with eating fast food and we’ll survive. But, if you’re an athlete, you need to take better care of yourself, so it’s the same with dogs.”

Perhaps the most compelling story is the one of a family of Pyranees that lives on the ranch – father Monster, mother Bear and Peanut, one of a litter of eight the canine couple had a few years ago.

While the other offspring were given away, Peanut is fittingly the one who remained with his parents after a rough start to life, said Wolf.

“He was pretty much the runt of the group,” he said. “So, it was a surviv-

Santo is a German Shepherd Wolf trains to compete in bite competitions in which working dogs put their vice-like jaws and teeth to the test – and as a result, has developed a special relationship with.

“Santo’s my buddy,” said Wolf. “He’s usually the one I’ll take out with me because he’s very obedient. But, I can’t really pick a favorite because that’s like having to choose between your kids.”

Interestingly enough, Wolf has a system of which of his dogs he lets interact with certain others in order to maintain proper law and order among the ranks.

“I’ll let them out in different groups,” he said. “For example, I can’t afford to lose Nosek if he gets injured and Nyx is just trying to find herself as a young adult female as far as where she belongs in the pack.”

Ironically, a pit bull named Flynn is the least likely to show the stereotypical meanness associated with the breed, said Wolf.

“Of all our dogs, he’s the least aggressive,” he said. “He’s friendly and will sit down with me and watch TV.” Beetlejuice is a feisty boxer who has decided to tangle with the lone feline on the premises.

“He thinks he’s a cat,” said Wolf, as Beetlejuice continues to paw playfully at Smokey, who chooses to calmly sit inches away on the couch looking at him as if to say ‘And your point?’ “He’s my snuggler and will usually sit on my lap.”

Wolf said he spends the most time with Nosek, as the duo is on the job for the school district, which causes the latter to tend to

Perhaps the most personable on the property is Craig, a llama who has become popular with the neighbors due to his outgoing personality.

PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

seek out some alone time upon returning home.

“Nosek is always excited to go to school,” he said. “But, once we get home it’s like he says ‘Okay, I’m done with work now and I just want to be a dog.’ So, he’ll pretty much just chill and keep to himself.”

Having so many animals on the property provides a sense of serenity that can’t be otherwise replicated, said Wolf.

“We’ll sit out here at night just as it’s starting to get dark,” he said. “Seeing all of them run around and play with each other is very calming and peaceful.”

Wolf built a custom dog kennel on his six-acre Liberty Hill property to house some of his 12 dogs.

PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

17

COMMUNITY

From trash to treasure

Liberty Hill-based Cowboy Junkers pick up junk--and so much more

BY RACHEL MADISON

OWNER/PUBLISHER

If the old saying of one man’s trash is another man’s treasure is really true, then no one knows that better than Jeff and Paula Dupre.

The couple owns Cowboy Junkers, a Liberty Hill-based business that picks up junk and other unwanted items from residences. Together they sort through their daily junk pickups, and anything that can be donated, recycled or reused, they find somewhere to take it.

“We take a lot of items we pick up to places like Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill and local thrift shops and food pantries,” Paula said. “We will also make trips to the landfill and recycling center.”

The Dupres moved to Liberty Hill about three years from New Jersey, where Jeff had retired from a career in law enforcement. Their move to Texas is what sparked the idea for them to open Cowboy Junkers.

“When we moved here, we brought everything we had, but when you move into a new house, half the stuff doesn’t fit or

you end up not needing it,” Paula said. “We noticed a lot of friends and neighbors had the same issue, so we thought, ‘Let’s make this a business.’”

For the last year, Cowboy Junkers has been picking up junk in and around Liberty Hill. Jeff—who represents the cowboy name well with his signature black cowboy hat—said he has picked up everything from cardboard boxes and couches to clothing and toys.

“We actually get a lot of baby items,” he said. “The thrift stores and consignment shops won’t take them for safety reasons, but a lot of them are brand new and we don’t want to just throw those things away.”

Paula said because of this, she and Jeff found the Trotter House in Liberty Hill, which is a nonprofit pregnancy and parenting resource center.

“It’s so fulfilling to take the items there,” she said. “When people are moving, a lot of times they don’t take the time to go through their things, and we will get boxes of diapers or baby food or clothing, all brand new, so we take most baby items

Jeff Dupre, co-owner of Cowboy Junkers, is known for wearing his signature black cowboy hat to pick up junk from customers. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

there now.”

Paula said when they initially opened Cowboy Junkers, she spent a lot of her time researching the best places to donate or dispose of items.

“We spend as much time researching where to take stuff as we do picking things up,” she said. “There’s a lot you can’t just take to a landfill. You have to take tires to a separate place and if we get metal we take that to the recycling plant.”

Jeff added that they’ve even found a perfect place to take old televisions and electronics: a “smash room” in Austin.

“This was a win for us because it keeps the TVs out of the landfill, and gives millennials something fun to do,” he said.

The Dupres also donate as much as they can to local animal shelters.

Sheets, towels, box fans and kiddie pools are all items animal shelters often need.

“We just feel great when we pull up to these places with things that help others in need,” Paula added.

About 90 percent of the Cowboy Junkers’ Jeff and Paula Dupre, owners of Cowboy Junkers, have picked up several pieces of old furniture that customers business is currently consider to be junk. Paula restores and refinishes many of the pieces for her own home or to sell online. within Santa Rita Ranch, COURTESY PHOTOS but Jeff said they’ll

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3

travel anywhere in the area to pick up junk, including Leander, Georgetown and Bertram.

“I usually ask every customer for a few photos and description of what they have in their junk pile, and then I’ll give them a quote based on the visual,” he said. “We always try to get junk picked up that day or the next day.”

Picking up junk brings a lot of interesting things the Dupres way. For example, in May, someone called them to finally pick up their real Christmas tree and dispose of it. Another customer wanted them to pick up a menagerie of quality tools, like a brand new chainsaw. Paula has also taken several pieces of furniture they’ve picked up and completely refinished them to put in their home. She has even sold some of her refinished pieces online.

“One day we picked up this dresser, and it was in bad shape, but we fixed the knobs and the drawers and sanded it down,” she said. “We repainted it and put in drawer liners, and now it looks pretty good.”

Though the Cowboy Junkers are just a year into their business, they look forward to seeing how they can continue to help the community.

“Before school started, we even had the opportunity to help a teacher move her classroom from Santa Rita Elementary to Bar W Elementary,” Paula said. “We love doing those things that help out our community.”

Cowboy Junkers can be found online on Facebook and Instagram. For more information, email cowboyjunkers@gmail. com.

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19

AGRICULTURE

Making farming more accessible

Liberty Hill family on mission to show people where their food comes from

BY RACHEL MADISON

The Liberty Hill farmland, which is considered prime farmland of statewide importance, hasn’t been farmed in the past, so it will take Farming is sometimes considered a lost some work. art in this day and age, but for Pete and Becky The Tamez’s operate a no-till farm, which Tamez, it’s still very much alive. means they don’t believe in chopping up all The couple, along with their three children, the microbes and other healthy things in the moved to Liberty Hill in April to start a new soil, Becky said. farm on six acres near Bear Creek.

“We practice regenerative agriculture, so The Tamez family isn’t new to farming— we treat the soil really well,” she added. “We they previously operated a farm in Leander get it really nice and healthy. In Leander, we on Hero Way—but their new location gives didn’t see any earthworms anywhere when we them twice as much space. Their farm, called first started farming, and by the time we left, Isle Acre Farms, has been a part of numerous you could just grab soil and you’d find a worm. farmer’s markets and a roadside stand over We’re doing the same methodology here.” the years. Now that they’re in Liberty Hill, they Though the extreme heat and abundant have even bigger plans. wildlife have been a challenge this summer, “It’s been a long transition process, and the Tamez’s have successfully started tomawe’ve had to do a lot of infrastructure, like toes, bottle gourds, cilantro, dill and squash. getting water pipes down here, but we’re excit“We’ve constructed electric fencing all the ed because we get to start a new farm again,” way around and we’ve put up shade cloths to Becky said. “We’ve taken everything we’ve help with the sun and the heat,” Pete said. “We learned to start again.” do still have some burn off, but we overplant so we’re OK with some of that.”

This fall, the Tamez’s are starting a community supported agriculture program. They have 35 families from Liberty Hill, Leander, Georgetown and Round Rock signed up to participate.

“We will have two pick-up locations in Leander and here at the farm, and it will give people a chance to get connected with the farming lifestyle,” Becky said. “A lot of people can’t farm in their own situation, and we want to allow people to experience that lifestyle. They will be able to come weekly or every other week to pick up vegetables.”

Once the fall program is underway, Becky said they may open another program for the spring, or look at doing other types of programming for 2024.

“The program is great because people can come and walk around, enjoy the farm and even sign up for Pete Tamez, along with his wife, Becky, recently moved their farm, volunteer days so they can get their Iscle Acre Farms, from Leander to Liberty Hill. They are looking for- hands dirty,” she added. ward to helping Liberty Hill locals learn more about food and where The Tamez’s have noticed people’s it comes from. COURTESY PHOTO desire for knowing where their food OWNER/PUBLISHER

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3

The Tamez’s started their farm, Isle Acres Farm, in Leander. They grow vegetables of all varieties, including tomatoes, carrots and squash. COURTESY PHOTO gasted,” Becky said. “They even kind of like comes from has grown significantly in recent them sometimes.” years, as well as the desire for cultural diversiIn the future, the Tamez’s plan to expand ty in their food. their farm to include more than just vegeta“Because of this we are looking at different bles. They envision fruit trees and ground areas where they grow different varietals of foraging plants, as well as animals. vegetables,” Pete said. “We’re looking in other “In five to 10 years we want to be able to places further south to get more heat-loving come out and pick food whenever we want crops to grow.” year round,” Pete said.

Pete has even come across a tomato called the Liberty Hill tomato, which he plans to add to his crops next year.

The Tamez’s came upon farming shortly after their first child was born.

“When we first started this adventure, we had just had our first daughter, and we were unhealthy,” Becky said. “My favorite meal was Tuna Helper. We didn’t know anything, and we were trying to feed her healthy, so we started looking into food and what healthy meant and saw how much stuff was put in food. That’s when we decided to grow our own.”

Becky said she’s asked someone to write a cookbook with seasonal recipes for customers to utilize as they pick up their vegetables.

“There’s so many different ways to eat vegetables that people just don’t know about, so we’re trying to open people’s eyes to that,” she said.

They also believe that through inviting people to the farm to see where their food comes from is really important, especially for children.

Pete and Becky Tamez found a passion for farming after their “When kids do come to the farm, they first child was born, nearly 13 years ago. They recently moved their farming operation to Liberty Hill near Bear Creek. are 100 percent more willing to try the PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON vegetables and their parents are flabber-

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23

EDUCATION

Running on sunshine Liberty Hill students design, build solar-powered vehicle

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

When the Solar Panthers of Liberty Hill took to the track at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth in mid-July, it was the culmination of nine months of planning, design and construction by a dedicated team of Purpleand-Gold technicians.

The fruits of their labor was a four-passenger, solar-powered car that competed in the 2023 Solar Car Challenge – an annual event that attracts teams from across America to match wits with a variety of vehicles using sunshine for fuel.

In all, 20 Liberty Hill High School students took part in the process and the results were quite remarkable, said LHHS physics teacher and sponsor Michael McGregor.

“I’m really pleased with the finished product and how it came out,” he said. “What you have to remember is these kids weren’t trained professionals – they had to learn all these concepts first before they could apply them, so to accomplish what they were able to was outstanding.”

According to McGregor, four-passenger vehicles are a rarity in the competition due to the added complexity of designing and constructing such a large vehicle, but the students themselves would have it no other way.

“When they decided they wanted to build a four-passenger car, I was bit concerned,” said McGregor. “But, the main reason they wanted one was so four of them could be together and experience driving it at the same time.”

Of course, this went against the conven-

tional wisdom of the contest, he said.

“Most teams are trying to build as small and as light of a car as they can to make it more efficient,” said McGregor. “Here we were building this big, bulky, heavy vehicle, but it ended up being very efficient – I’ve never seen another car like it all the years I’ve been going to the competition.”

The car featured large solar panels on the hood, roof and rear of the vehicle in order to soak up as much of the sun as possible.

“Our panels have a 22 percent efficiency rating,” said McGregor. “Which means if you take 100 percent of the power the sun provides, that’s how much is actually converted to fuel the battery.”

Valuable lessons learned

Senior Ryan Benson was a team member and believes participation in the competition will help propel him to a career in aerospace engineering, he said.

“This has provided me with knowledge in areas on the mechanical side of things,” said Benson. “For example, I was already good with electronics, but before now I didn’t know how to weld, make cuts or take measurements and I’ve been learning a lot about how everything else in a car works.”

Benson said this is the most gratifying part of the process for him.

“Mr. McGregor has a lot of know-how and knowledge,” he said. “But, we have to make our own decisions and research things on our own. For me, that’s the best part – problem solving and the process of finding answers.”

McGregor said this was perhaps the most

Following the competition, Liberty Hill’s solar-powered car made a road trip down Highway 29 to Lake Buchanan.

COURTESY PHOTO

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Liberty Hill High School’s “Solar Panthers” designed and built a sun-powered vehicle that competed in the 2023 Solar Car Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth in July. Pictured are LHHS physics teacher Michael McGregor, along with students Stephen Martin, Bella Buhro, Jayme Brown and Kaelyn Brushett.

COURTESY PHOTO

valuable aspect of the overall experience for his students.

“They learned about needed the resilience to identify a problem, then come up with a solution,” he said. “So, it was all about problem-solving, which can help in all aspects of everyday life.”

on a recent road trip west on Highway 29 to Lake Buchanan – powered by its 6,000-watt motor, which cranks out eight horsepower from its lithium ion phosphate battery.

Now that the car has been built, it can be entered into future competitions, so all there is left is to add modifications in various areas,

“What you have to remember is these kids weren’t trained professionals – they had to learn all these concepts first before they could apply them, so to accomplish what they were able to was outstanding.”

LHHS Physics Teacher Michael McGregor Making it all work

Parts for the vehicle were mostly scavenged from salvage yards, with each trip akin to a treasure hunt in which one never knows when the perfect component for the job will be uncovered.

“We found seats from a Honda Civic,” said McGregor. “The wheels we decided on aren’t full-size, but donut spares – the front wheels are from a Nissan Sentra, which are more narrow and create less road resistance and the rear wheels from a Ford Focus, which are larger and can support more weight in the back of the car, where the motors are.”

Vehicles – which are required to maintain a minimum speed of 20 miles-per-hour during the competition – must pass an exhaustive inspection before the event to make sure specifications are met and only then will they be allowed to compete.

Once the car hit the track in Fort Worth, it reached a maximum speed of 48 miles-perhour – quite remarkable for one of its size – and was able to maintain a speed of 23 MPH

said McGregor.

“Mostly with the electronics,” he said.

“For example, we installed a dashboard in the back seat so we can mount gauges for the rear passengers to monitor functions of the car like battery level. But, we’re also thinking about replacing the chain drive we currently have with a belt because it’s quieter and more durable.”

Down the road

As the Solar Panthers move forward on fine-tuning their creation, McGregor said the team must always remain vigilant when considering making changes to the blueprint.

“I used to work in construction and a buddy of mine had a saying,” said McGregor.

“When you’re building something, always know where you’re going before you get there.”

In other words, each and every step along the way must be scrutinized for accuracy and functionality to ensure miscalculations that would stunt production can be avoided.

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For example, something as simple as the dashboard of the four-passenger vehicle, he said.

“We always need to be thinking about ‘Okay, how is this or that going to attach,’” said McGregor. “You can’t just say ‘We’re going to put this here and not worry about if it has enough support behind the dash to make sure somebody can’t accidentally put a hand through it or something. It’s just the nature of this process and why patience is so important.”

McGregor said before the project could even get off the ground, though, some initial logistical issues had to be addressed.

“First, we needed money and we got gen-

erous donations from the Panther Pit Crew, the Liberty Hill Education Foundation and a couple of local businesses,” he said. “After that, we needed to find space to work, so we shared a shop with the wood and metal programs.”

In all, the vehicle’s price tag was approximately $12,000 – although with donations, not all that money was out-of-pocket.

However, the final piece to the puzzle was to assemble a group of eager, young minds with the desire to create something from the ground up, then take it into competition.

“Really, that was the easy part,” said McGregor. “We had plenty of kids that worked hard to make this a reality.”

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27

SPORTS

Leader of the defense Panthers senior middle linebacker always in control

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Despite the fact Samuel Knox often finds himself standing directly across from opposing quarterbacks from his middle linebacker position in the Liberty Hill defense, that doesn’t mean the senior isn’t a signal-caller of his own.

“When the offense lines up in a formation, I need to recognize that and tell people what gaps are theirs,” said Knox. “Make sure everyone knows what their job is when the ball is snapped.”

According to Knox, having that extra responsibility on top of his own assignment is an aspect of his job description he has gotten accustomed to – and one he enjoys.

“Once you get up to speed with everything, it’s not so difficult,” said Knox. “Besides, I like being the one out there controlling things for our defense.”

Know isn’t the first member of his family to play the position for the Panthers, as older brother Austin was a standout linebacker that graduated with the Class of 2020 and said his sibling has offered all kinds of advice – although he fancies himself a different kind of player.

“I think a lot more on the field than Austin

did,” said Knox. “He was a lot more aggressive, though.”

Being the second of two brothers to pass through the Panthers program provided him with the opportunity to get an idea of what was in store for him upon reaching the varsity level and also gave his future coaches a taste of what he would bring to the table.

“I got to know the coaches a little bit through my brother,” he said. “I’m glad I was able to prove to them what I can do.”

The Knox family’s middle brother, Jackson, played baseball for Liberty Hill before graduating with the Class of 2022 and Samuel himself didn’t step onto a gridiron until he reached middle school – all by design.

“Austin had a lot of injuries playing football,” said Knox. “So, my parents made me wait until seventh grade to start playing organized, even though I played pickup football before then.”

Initially, Knox played fullback on offense in addition to linebacker, but it wasn’t long before he stayed strictly on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage – the better to dish out punishment than absorb it, he said.

“Playing linebacker, I get a four-yard head start on being able to hit a running back coming through the line,” said Knox, who racked

Panthers defensive lineman Alister Vallejo (56) brings down a Wagner ballcarrier while teammates Luke Miller (13) and Grey Hargrove (46) move in on the play during Liberty Hill’s 49-17 season-opening loss to Wagner.

PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

28

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Panthers senior middle linebacker Samuel Knox (10) controls Liberty Hill’s defense by maintaining awareness of his surroundings on the field. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO up 96 tackles last season as a junior. “Also, I get to rush the passer, read the play and control what other people around me are doing.”

However, despite his penchant for pounding opposing ballcarriers, Knox’s most memorable moment from last year occurred with him carrying the ball himself.

“I had a pick-six against Bastrop from about 50 yards out,” he said. “It was amazing – I never thought I would have the chance to score.”

Turns out, despite having given up offense years earlier, Knox still enjoys getting his hands on the ball when the opportunity presents itself, as he also recovered three fumbles last season – including covering a loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown, giving him two scores for the season.

Speaking of scoring six points, with the Purple-and-Gold’s propensity for churning out yards and putting points up in rapid-fire fashion on offense, many times Knox and his defensive mates don’t have much time to catch their collective breath before being summoned back out under the lights – but, no worries, he said.

“I just love playing football,” said Knox. “Ev-

ery time I go back out on the field is a chance to do something big.”

Knox said as the defense’s signal-caller, he has the freedom to make calls after he sees how the offense is lining up – with a little help from his head coach, he said.

“If I go out there and see a formation I don’t recognize because we didn’t see it on film, I’ll look over to (Panthers head) Coach (Kent) Walker and he’ll signal to me what to do,” said Knox. “We’ll start a game with an idea of what the other team is going to do, but sometimes we’ll have to make adjustments at halftime.”

As Knox worked his way up through the ranks from middle school to freshman team to junior varsity and finally to varsity, more and more of the Panthers’ playbook began to open before his very eyes, which in turn made them light up when he would take the field.

“When I started playing football in seventh grade, I didn’t know how much I would end up loving it,” he said. “Moving up, there were a lot more blitzes and plays we would use, but the coaches also expected more out of you.

“Once you get up to speed with everything, it’s not so difficult. Besides, I like being the one out there controlling things for our defense.”

Samuel Knox Liberty Hill High School senior middle linebacker

SPORTS

Continuing to grow and flourish Liberty Hill’s tennis program has 70 players this season

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

One need look no further than the dusty construction site adjacent to the tennis complex at Liberty Hill High School for an indicator of how the Panthers program continues to grow.

Four new courts are being added to the existing eight, which will allow Liberty Hill head coach Sherry Rhoden even more space to continue cultivating what has already become a flourishing program under her guidance.

With 70 players in the high school ranks and another 100 in middle school, there are many faces roaming about on the purple hardcourts on a typical afternoon as more and more young athletes are finding a place to call home.

As the Panthers’ varsity kicks off the fall team tennis season, freshman Lily Tobin is one of the newcomers – although she’s already familiar with her new surrounding after having played for Santa Rita Middle

School’s squad before matriculating to the high-school campus.

Despite the fact she’s already logged countless hours on the courts there, she’s still experiencing the newness and excitement of being a high-school varsity player, she said.

“At this level, it’s more challenging,” said Tobin. “But, it’s also a lot more fun.”

Tobin began playing tennis in seventh grade after her family moved south from Minnesota to escape the harsh winters and was looking to pick up a new athletic activity after having previously played soccer.

“You don’t have to hit the hardest or be the strongest to be a good tennis player,” she said. “It’s more about the strategy, like a game of chess.”

Rhoden said Tobin’s ability to play a strong mental game gives her an advantage over opponents that aren’t yet as advanced in that aspect.

“Lily has excellent court knowledge after having already put in so many hours on the court – be it practice or matches,” said

Liberty Hill’s tennis program has grown from 40 players to 70 since Panthers head coach Sherry Rhoden took over four years ago. The team continues to flourish under her guidance. COURTESY PHOTO

Rhoden. “A lot of players her age don’t really know the game yet, but she’s always striving to be better than she was yesterday.”

In addition, Tobin brings an energy to the team that belies her relative inexperience, she said.

“She’s just full of joy and exudes it,” said Rhoden. “It’s really impressive to see a freshman come in want success for everyone like she does.”

Johnathan Allaire is a junior who has already been around the block with the Panthers, playing both tennis and basketball and said the reason he decided to try out a court of a different kind was after a sibling did the same.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

29

SPORTS

Towering trio lays down law for Lady Panthers

Three six-foot middle blockers man middle of Liberty Hill

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

much across the board in all aspects,” said Marie Bruce, who led Liberty Hill to the Class 5A state tournament last year in her first year on the Purple-and-Gold’s sideOver 18 combined feet of middle blocker lines. “They always strive to get better every features for the Lady Panthers of Liberty day, but I think the best part is they’re all Hill this season as a trio of six-foot juniors great teammates to each other.” has laid claim to defending the net against Evie Bruce backed up her coach’s claim. opposing attacks, with Evie Bruce (6-foot-1), “We’re all very competitive and want Aubrey Hughes (6-feet) and Ava Kostroun that starting spot or to get the most playing (6-1) providing Lady Panthers head coach time,” she said. “But, we all support each Marie Bruce with a mountain of a middle. other and want to put up the best block we Hitters beware. possibly can for our team.”

While Kostroun made her varsity debut Hughes said friendly battles in training last season as a sophomore in backing up between the three results in overall better senior Morgan Poulain – who is now playing middle play on match days. at Division I Sam Houston State University “Every practice is a competition for the – Hughes wasn’t called up to the big squad next game,” she said. “We all want to play, until the playoffs and Bruce has just been but we give our full energy and there’s no elevated from the junior varsity this year. pouting or anything. We’re just super-excitAccording to Marie Bruce, the triumvirate ed and want what’s best for the team.” has gelled quite nicely since being united at Bruce has played basketball – which the start of this season. continues to be her primary sport – from a “All three of them have just improved so young age and only took up volleyball in middle school.

“I saw some of my friends playing and it seemed fun,” she said. “Also, my parents wanted me to play to stay in shape for basketball.”

However, back then, Bruce hadn’t yet hit the growth spurt that has shot her up over six feet and played a polar-opposite position, she said.

“At first, I was a setter,” said Evie Bruce. “I really liked being able to help other people get kills.”

But, nature took over and now Bruce finds herself on the other end of the equation – with the knowledge she gained previously coming in handy these days.

“Having been a setter before helps me as a middle because I understand better where the ball is coming from,” she said. “Being a good setter definitely isn’t easy.”

Kostroun has the most varsity experience and has progressed to the point now where she doesn’t get easily flustered when things go wrong on the court, she said.

“One of the most important Lady Panthers middle blocker Evie Bruce (12) has things to learn is how to take critibrought her competitiveness and intensity from bascism,” said Kostroun, who collected ketball to the volleyball court this season.

113 kills and 34 blocks last season.

PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO “You just have to be confident in OWNER/PUBLISHER

30

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Aubrey Hughes (9) has made herself at home in the middle of the Liberty Hill net in helping provide a formidable defense. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

yourself.”

Marie Bruce added the ability to rotate middles for the duration of matches without losing anything from a skill-set standpoint is a massive boost.

“It’s great to be able to have that kind of strength at the net through an entire match,” she said. “All of them perform, so it’s an advantage to have so much depth at that position.”

Bruce still plays basketball in addition to her volleyball duties and Marie Bruce believes the intensity, toughness and enthusiasm she brings from one court helps on

the other.

“Evie brings the kind of competitiveness and energy from basketball we need as a team,” she said. “Her spirit has been huge for us this year.”

Marie Bruce said all three middles had a defined job description entering the current campaign, but it’s one that can always be enhanced as the season wears on.

“All of them know as middles, defense is their first job – their priority is blocking,” she said. “But, by the end of the season, we also want them to be phenomenal hitters.”

Liberty Hill’s Ava Kostroun (11) debuted on varsity last season and has added stability to the position this year.

PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

31

SPORTS

Cross country ranks swell with new members Liberty Hill trail runners young, talented

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

When Liberty Hill’s cross country squad hit the trails for its first meet of the new season at the Vista Ridge Invitational, a majority of its runners were experiencing something brand new.

“In that race, 29 of our 55 kids were running a 5K course for the first time,” said Panthers head coach Kim Holt. “We have a lot of freshman this year and others who are running cross country for the first time.”

The previous week, the Purple-and-Gold had competed at the annual Battle for Wilco Park Relays, but this was the initial traditional event of the new year.

Ella Egizio was the highest-finishing Liberty Hill girl with a 23rd-place result in the field of 120 in a time of 21:05.0, which represented a new personal best for the junior, who owes her fast start out of the gate on the trails this year to the success she had on the track for the Panthers last spring.

However, that was only after she overcame a mystery ailment that had previously affected her performance, she said.

“I was always feeling really fatigued and didn’t know what it was from,” said Egizio.

“So, I went to the doctor, had some bloodwork done and found out I was low on iron, so I starting taking supplements and by the time track rolled around, I was fine.”

Egizio had made the varsity cross country team as a freshman two years ago, but once the iron deficiency took hold, failed to make the big squad last season as a sophomore.

But, those troubles are now behind her, she said.

“I’m definitely back,” said Egizio. “My goal is to run a sub-20 race this season.”

As Liberty Hill’s No. 1 girl, Egizio said she feels as though more of the responsibility falls on her shoulders to help propel the entire team to victory.

“It’s not pressure to stay No. 1, but pressure to help my team,” she said. “Cross country is an individual sport, but it’s more

Tennis

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

him in something,” said Allaire. “So, I finally got that opportunity.”

Allaire still plays basketball and enjoys the contrast between both sports.

“I love the intensity of basketball – it’s five-on-five out there and you’re working together with your teammates,” he said.

“You can really just get after it, but with tennis you have to be a little more calm and take things one step at a time with more of a controlled aggression.”

According to Rhoden, Allaire does well in blending aspects

about the team than most people realize.”

Following Egizio in the running order at Vista Ridge were sophomore Laura Jonas (36th, 21:33.8), junior Kimberly Guzman (53rd, 22:09.5), junior Megan Smith (55th, 22:12.9) and sophomore Kelly Guzman (62nd, 22:24.4), but that can change on a week-to-week basis depending on results.

Holt said there is much Liberty Hill’s Ella Egizio has recovered from an iron deficiency that slowed the competition for the seven varsity spots come the end- junior down last season. PHOTO BY ABBY GLENN of-season races.

“We haven’t had this much competition ) and sophomore Aaron Reyes (71st, 18:35.2) on the girls’ side for awhile,” she said. “We rounded out the top five, with others in the have 13-15 girls going for those seven places, mix to crack the points-paying positions in so it will only make them all better.” future weeks.

On the boys’ side, senior Caden Glenn led In the team results, the Panthers girls the way with a 22nd-place finish at Vista finished ninth in the 16-team field, while the Ridge in a time of 17:17.4 in a field of 178 boys were seventh out of 20. despite being ill, which signals to Holt he’s Holt said as her new runners get more capable of much more this season. accustomed to the more grueling length of “Caden ran in the 17s when he was sick,” the races, it will bode well for the business she said. “So, I believe he can get into the 15s end of the campaign. by the end of the season.”

“Getting them to feel what that new disIn the opening event, junior Nick Hogge tance feels like is big,” she said. “But, most of (26th, 17:22.5), senior Chay Luna (33rd, all, our kids were just excited to compete as 17:42.0), junior Michael Green (62nd, 18:17.4 a group for the first time this season.”

from what makes him successful in hoops to tennis.

“Johnathan really likes to attack the ball,” said Rhoden.

“He’s been able to take his aggressiveness from basketball and learned when to use it and when to strategize.”

However, Allaire doesn’t want to just compete – he wants to be victorious whenever he and his teammates step onto the court.

“Building a winning culture is very important to me,” he said.

“I’ve always been very competitive and want to take something as far as I can. Tennis is already fun, but winning is more fun.”

Rhoden is currently in her fourth season leading the Panthers and has successfully stewarded the program, with an increase of 40 high-school players when she took over to

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the 70 that now fill the rosters of the varsity and JV teams and from the beginning has had a primary objective of creating a family-like atmosphere, which has also come to fruition and is blooming better than ever, she said.

“We have a lot of social butterflies on this team,” said Rhoden. “All the kids like each other and get along great.”

In addition to the new courts, the tennis team will have its own locker room for the first time with the renovation of the spring field house, which further illustrates the growth curve the program has followed, said Rhoden.

“Up until now, my classroom has basically been our locker room,” she said. “So, it’s absolutely wonderful to finally have a place we can call our own.”

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PANTHER OF THE MONTH

Keeping her future on ‘track’ Lady Panthers senior volleyballer set to play at Vanderbilt

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

year is her ability to make better decisions on the court, which enables her to support her teammates even more.”

Last season as a junior, Mason led the Gigi Mason always pictured herself as Lady Panthers with 437 kills for a Liberty a college athlete – just not the sport she’ll Hill squad that posted an overall record of be playing upon her arrival at Vanderbilt 42-11 and advanced all the way to the Class University next fall.

5A state semifinals, including a season-high “I was always in track,” said Mason, who 19-kill performance in a regional final victowill be stepping onto a volleyball court for ry over district rivals Rouse. the NCAA Division I program in Nashville Mason bombs away from her customary next season. “I didn’t even start playing corner of the net as a left-handed hitter, volleyball until seventh grade.” which presents problems for opposing deEver since, the 5-foot-11 senior outside fenders trying to shut down the southpaw, hitter has dominated the net for the Purplesaid Bruce. and-Gold to the point where she’ll get to “As a lefty, Gigi is much harder for deplay her trade at the next level of competifenses to read her as far as where she’s going to go with the ball,” she said. “She’s very athletic.”

However, Mason said there is an added dimension for those tasked with delivering the ball to her at the net.

“For the setters, they have to adjust as far as where they get me the ball,” she said. “Compared to if I was a right-handed hitter.”

According to Mason, her continued evolution as a player involves trying to not Lady Panthers outside hitter Gigi Mason (14) will play college volleyball at Vanderbilt University once her highschool career compare herself now to past ends. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO versions.

“Since I made varsity, I’ve felt like you can’t play against your past self,” tion upon graduation and Liberty Hill head said Mason. “Ever since, I’ve been maturing coach Marie Bruce is certain Mason will and learning a lot.” make the move smoothly.

Mason said one of the most valuable les“Gigi just continues to improve in her sons learned has been to keep her emotions all-around game – mentally and physically,” in check during matches in order to propersaid Bruce. “But, the biggest difference this OWNER/PUBLISHER

Liberty Hill senior Gigi Mason (14) keeps opposing defenses off balance as a powerful, left-handed outside hitter.

PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

ly channel her feelings.

“I think just playing more steady emotionally,” she said. “Not getting down on myself or depressed if things aren’t going well.”

When Mason and her family moved to Liberty Hill from Round Rock before her seventh-grade year, she was still set on being strictly a track athlete, but fate intervened in the form of friendship, she said.

“Really, I was just looking to something else to do,” said Mason. “(Former teammate) Lily (Kostroun) and (current teammate) Ava (Kostroun) were two of my best friends and they already played volleyball, so I decided to.”

Initially, though, it wasn’t a smooth transition applying her track athleticism to the court, she said.

“At first, I couldn’t serve a ball over the net,” said Mason. “But, eventually I started getting the ball over.”

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she can be found spending time with a pair of four-legged buddies at home in a pair of pit bulls named Bentley and Mercedes.

“I’ve always liked dealing with dogs,” she said. “I love these two so much.”

She feels the same way even when canine and human sleep schedules don’t exactly match.

“Bentley will come into my room – he knows how to open doors,” said Mason.

“He’ll just stand there and look at me like ‘Get up!’ Both of them are happy, energetic dogs.”

Upon the conclusion of volleyball season this year, Mason will once and for all put on a pair of spikes and hit the track for the Panthers in bringing to fruition the dreams she once had before her sports destiny took her indoors.

“Yes, I’m going to finally do it,” she said, of her anticipated participation in the 200 meters, along with the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relays. “After that, I can move on.”

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

33

COLUMN

Qualifications of a good school board (circa 1925)

BY JAMES WEAR

COLUMNIST

Back in 1925, The Broadcaster, a publication that was distributed countywide by an organization known as the Rural School Teachers of Williamson County, published a story listing the attributes of a good school board member.

The story included the following observation: “A community can have a good school board if it will. This takes at least three things: wideawake, progressive patrons; the proper type of school board members; (and) a well-trained, efficient teacher...”

Elsewhere, the story included 26 points the writer (unknown) said were qualities of a good school board member, some of which we list below: Has he at least a common-school education?

Does he own his own home?

Does he read a standard farm paper and at least one magazine or periodical of recognized worth?

In he easy to get along with--not of fault-finding disposition?

At local school meetings does he show himself as being favorable to spending money for well-trained and efficient teachers and for good school equipment?

As a school official, has he voted within the last year for some school improvement such as sanitary toilets, painting the buildings, improvements in lighting and heating, slate black boards, single adjustable seats, library books and supplementary readers, improvements of the grounds, etc.?

Has he voted to allow the teacher of his school from $15 to $50 to spend at her discretion, for supplies or supplementary books?

Has he expressed himself as being more

concerned for better schools than for the reduction of taxes?

The article also notes, “It is perfectly absurd to think that merely because a man has been elected to a school board he is thereby fitted to pass judgment on educational problems even in his own community without serious study. This means that every school board member should read numerous magazines and newspaper articles written by those who are thoroughly informed in regard to school matters.”

Elsewhere, the author writes, “To plan for proper education of children is far more difficult and intricate than to prescribe medicine or interpret law.”

In the same issue The Broadcaster quoted President Woodrow Wilson, who reportedly said, “Popular education is necessary for the preservation of those conditions of freedom, political and social, which are indispensable to free development.”

President Theodore Roosevelt is also quoted: “To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”

Another issue of The Broadcaster included the following report from Beatrice Peterson, a ninth grade student at Monodale. She noted, “When all came back to school this year, the trustees had just put in a fountain. We had carried water from our neighbors up to this time, so we know how to appreciate it.”

She also reported, “After Christmas we had a Washington celebration. Our superintendent, Mr. H.L. Egger, was with us. We served coffee and cake and with the money we made, we intended to buy a basketball. A few days before the entertainment the trustees bought us a basketball and we bought pencil sharpeners.”

WORSHIP GUIDE Liberty Hill & Surrounding Communities ANDICE BAPTIST CHURCH 6570 FM 970, Florence (254) 793-2557 | www.andicebc.org PASTORS Derrick Norris, Senior Pastor Matt Koehler, Associate Pastor of Students & Families SERVICES Sunday Bible Study 9:45am Sunday Worship 11am Wednesday AWANA 6:30pm

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CROSS TRACKS CHURCH 101 Church St., Liberty Hill (512) 515-0070 www.crosstrackschurchumc.org PASTOR Michele Lott SERVICES Sunday School 9am Sunday Worship 10am Sun. Online Facebook.com/cross trackschurch/

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Stan Kaut

Stanley William Kaut was born November 28, 1943, at Huntington Hospital in Long Island, NY. Raised with his sisters Pat and JoAnne, he later graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1966 with an electrical engineering degree.

Initially working with General Electric Co in NYC, he had a field engineering work assignment during the construction at Oyster Creek in 1967, our country’s 1st nuclear power plant. This was followed by industry-pioneering activities and the launching of several consulting companies, and he ultimately joined the Santa Clara Valley Water District in 1988 where he managed system engineering water purification and supply activities for all of Santa Clara’s water.

During his time as a resident of San Jose, CA, Stan was a single-parent to his three children, Bill, Kris, and Corrina, and eventually met the love of his life, Teresa, at a Taco Bell there in 1987, which earned her the nickname “TBT.” Together they raised Terrie’s daughter, Stephanie, until 2006 when Type 1 Diabetes took her from him.

Stan was a decent athlete who played on his college basketball team and developed a love for soccer as a player and coach for forty years, including playing in the Senior Olympics in South America. He also enjoyed playing golf and was the District’s golf club Treasurer. Although his golfing prowess was not very strong, it was highlighted by

HOLY ANNUNCIATION ORTHODOX CHURCH 5205 CR 236, Liberty Hill (512) 627-7674 www.annunciationtx.com PASTOR Bp. Irineos Placek SERVICES Vespers Sat. 6:30pm Divine Liturgy Sun. 10am LIFE SPRINGS CHRISTIAN CHURCH 15611 W State Hwy 29, Liberty Hill (512) 633-6074 www.lifespringschristianchurch.org

PASTOR Dr. William Brannan SERVICES Sunday Worship 10am Online youtube.com/c/LifeSprings MISSION LIBERTY HILL LUTHERAN CHURCH (LCMS Affiliated) 15725 W State Hwy 29, #7 Liberty Hill (512) 778-9310 www.missionlibertyhill.com PASTOR Rev. Mike Cofer

his achieving the elusive hole-in-one along the way. His passions included driving his 1967 red Austin Healy, followed by his 2005 Hummer SUT, and then his 2021 Maserati after moving to the Austin area in Texas.

Stan loved dogs, initially as a child with Freckles, then Maui and Yogi with Terrie, followed by his 13 years with his Bernese Mountain Dog, Buster.

He particularly valued his therapy visits with Buster with children and seniors.

Following Terrie’s passing in 2006, Stan had the fortune to join in National Geographic’s first expedition to Tibet, which he followed up a couple of years later with a second Himalayan adventure by visiting his Tibetan guide at his home in Kathmandu in Nepal, accompanied with a stop in majestic Bhutan. Stan had developed a yearning to travel to the Himalayas while watching karate and kung foo movies with his boys in the 80’s. He used to say that someday he was going to go there to meet the bald-headed Gandhi-like wise-man that would tell him the true meaning of life, which he found as espoused by the 14th Dalai Lama as: “We are visitors on this planet. We are here for 90 or 100 years at the most. During that period, we must try to do something good, something useful, with our lives. If you contribute to other people’s happiness, you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life.”

Stan tried to live his life this way.

SERVICES Sunday Adult Bible Study and Sunday School 9am Sunday Church Worship 10am Sunday Online 10am missionlibertyhill.com/onlineworship/ ROCKPOINTE CHURCH LIBERTY HILL 170 CR 214, Liberty Hill (512) 259-8872 www.rockpointechurch.com PASTOR Darin Ramsey, Campus Pastor SERVICES Sunday Worship 9:30am

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

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EVENTS CALENDAR

September September 2

DAN WINSMAN SOLO Liberty Tavern 3000 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 7 p.m.

Libertytavern.co JR’S JUKEBOX Hometown Watering Hole 3317 Hwy. 29, Bertram 8:30 p.m., $10 hometownwateringhole.net

National Night Out

BEAT WILLY TRIVIA Whiskey Barrel Pub 1004 Main St., Liberty Hill 7 p.m. whiskeybarrelpub.com FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE WITH ROYCE REED’S TEXAS PIANO Agape BBQ 3610 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 6:30 p.m. agapebbq.com

September 9

DEKA STRONG Rebel Fitness 126 Holmes Rd., Liberty Hill 7 a.m. tickets-usdk.spartan.com/event/ DS694 THE MARKET LHTX Cross Tracks Church 101 Church St., Liberty Hill 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. facebook.com/MarketLHTX FAMILY SHILOH BAND Dahlia Café 2450 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 6: 30 – 8: 30 p.m. dahliacafe.com

September 5

NAME THAT TUNE BINGO Liberty Tavern 3000 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 7-9 p.m.

Libertytavern.co

September 7

KARAOKE Hell or Highwater Brewing 933 Main St., Liberty Hill 7-9 p.m. hellorhighwaterbrewing.com

Paul Finley

SATURDAY UNDER THE OAKS WITH AUBURN MCCORMICK Agape BBQ 3610 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 6:30 p.m. agapebbq.com NAMELESS ROAD Hometown Watering Hole 3317 Hwy. 29, Bertram 8:30 p.m., $10 hometownwateringhole.net

HOWDY FALL SUGAR COOKIE DECORATING CLASS Baked By Joy Leigh 1651 Main St., Liberty Hill 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. bakedbyjoyleigh.com/cookie-classes END OF SUMMER LUAU PARTY The Vineyard at Florence 111 Via Francesco, Florence 5:30-10 p.m. thevineyardatflorence.com JEREMY PARSONS Main Street Social 1651 Main St., Liberty Hill 6-9:30 p.m. mainstreetsocial.com FUSION ATX Hometown Watering Hole 3317 Hwy. 29, Bertram 8:30 p.m., $10 hometownwateringhole.net

September 17

CENTRAL TEXAS PHILHARMONIC CRESCENDO FUNDRAISER Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel 1101 Woodlawn Ave., Georgetown 6-9 p.m., $125/ticket centraltexasphilharmonic.org

September 22

NERF NIGHT OUT (AGES 7+) Urban Defense Academy 141 Jonathan Drive, Liberty Hill 5:30-8:30 p.m. urbandefenseacademy.com

Central Texas Philharmonic

DERBY ON THE HILL Lone Star Oaks 3354 CR 236, Liberty Hill 1-5 p.m., $95/ticket lhisdeducationfoundation.org/derby-onthe-hill-1 FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE WITH PAUL FINLEY Agape BBQ 3610 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 6:30 p.m. agapebbq.com JASON KANE WHITE Hometown Watering Hole 3317 Hwy. 29, Bertram 8:30 p.m., $10 hometownwateringhole.net

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Jason Kane White 2450 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 6: 30 – 8: 30 p.m. dahliacafe.com

3317 Hwy. 29, Bertram 8:30 p.m., $10 hometownwateringhole.net

AMERICAN GYPSY Hometown Watering Hole 3317 Hwy. 29, Bertram 8:30 p.m., $10 hometownwateringhole.net

October 1

September 24

CENTRAL TEXAS PHILHARMONIC “BENINI-PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION: THE GREAT GATE OF KIEV” Klett Performing Arts Center 2211 N. Austin Ave., Georgetown 4 p.m., $40/ticket centraltexasphilharmonic.org

September 29

THEMTHATKNOW Main Street Social 1651 Main St., Liberty Hill 6-9:30 p.m. mainstreetsocial.com JOSHY BOY Liberty Tavern 3000 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 7-10 p.m.

Libertytavern.co

September 10

September 15

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September 16

September 30

STRAIGHT AHEAD Main Street Social 1651 Main St., Liberty Hill 6-9:30 p.m. mainstreetsocial.com OKTOBERFEST Thirsty Penguin 14751 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 7 p.m.ga thirstypenguin.com

September 23

BOOT ROCK BOYS Dahlia Café

BERTRAM OATMEAL FESTIVAL Downtown Bertram Grange & Vaughan Streets, Bertram 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. oatmealfestival.org WHITESTONE BAND Dahlia Café 2450 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 6: 30 – 8: 30 p.m. dahliacafe.com FRIDAYZ WITH RENEE Liberty Hill Beer Market 13851 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 7-9 p.m. libertyhillbeermarketmenu.com JESS LOPEZ Hometown Watering Hole

BERTRAM OATMEAL FESTIVAL Downtown Bertram Grange & Vaughan Streets, Bertram 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. oatmealfestival.org

October 3

WELCOME LHTX Liberty Hill ISD Admin Building 301 Forrest St., Liberty Hill 8:30-9:30 a.m. experiencelhtx.com/welcome-lhtx LIBERTY HILL POLICE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Liberty Hill Middle School 13125 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 6-8 p.m. facebook.com/libertyhillpolicedepartment

Bertram Oatmeal Festival

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

37

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