January 2025 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

January 2025 | LHIndependent.com

Feline Fine

Kitten gets new lease on life after rescue from storm drain

by Liberty Hill Fire Department

Locals, ISD share thoughts on state-approved Bluebonnet Learning curriculum p.9 RECYCLING MOTHER NATURE SINCE 1975

Santa Rita area residents call for increased precaution due to unregulated fireworks p. 11

Get informed on news happening across the Liberty Hill community p.16

Happy 2025!

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CONTENTS FEATURES 7 | CAMPO Organization gets feedback from community for future plans 9 | BLUEBONNET CURRICULUM Liberty Hill ISD not planning to implement Bible-based teachings 11 | FIREWORKS CONCERNS Santa Rita residents voice worries about unregulated fireworks

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12 | DISCOVERING SONORA Underground caverns highlight a visit to this country town 14 | SAVING A LIFE Liberty Hill firefighter saves kitten from storm drain 16 | NEWS ROUNDUP Get the latest news from across the Liberty Hill community

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19 | FINE FIRST SEASON Wranglers wrap up successful inaugural gridiron campaign 20 | NEW KID ON THE COURT Panthers senior blends right in with new surroundings 22 | ADJUSTING ON THE MAT Wrestlers switch weight classes over course of season 24 | PANTHER OF THE MONTH Lady Panthers center grown leaps and bounds since freshman season 25 | WRANGLER OF THE MONTH Hoopster provides versatility on court by playing multiple positions 26 | HOPES FOR NEW SEASON Lady Panthers soccer looking to advance toward state title

DEPARTMENTS 5 | BIZ BRIEFS Local business news and what’s coming to Liberty Hill soon 27 | COLUMN Columnist recalls major pipeline blast 28 | LOCAL EVENTS Entertainment on tap for January

Independent

Together

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ABOUT OUR COVER

Liberty Hill Firefighter Josh Brown was part of the rescue team who saved Storm the kitten from a storm drain in the Stonewall Ranch subdivision in November 2024.

After the heroic rescue, Brown adopted the kitten.

PHOTO BY BRIEN AHO

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LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT MONTHLY

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BIZ BRIEFS: What’s New?

Latest business news and what’s coming soon to Liberty Hill No additional information is available for the warehouse, but the $8.2 million fuel center is set to undergo construction in January 2025 and be completed by October 2025. The convenience store will be approximately 4,800 square feet.

Target State Hwy. 29 & U.S. Hwy. 183, Liberty Hill Target, which is projected to cost $22 million to build, is set to undergo construction in July 2025 and be completed by June 2026. The store will be more than 148,000 square feet in size.

FOOD & BEVERAGE El Mariachis Mexican Restaurant & Bar 14801 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill El Mariachis Mexican Restaurant & Bar is now open in the former location of Elena's on State Highway 29. The restaurant's regular hours will be 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Under the Copper Roof 3103 RR 1869, Liberty Hill A new vintage, antique and heirloom home and garden decor store is opening in the former located of Royal Bliss Day Spa on RR 1869. The store is owned by local Lara Cunningham, who sources her unique items from across Texas and the South.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• Black Rock Coffee Bar 8481 W. Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

RETAIL Sage Plaza Retail Center 1892 Hwy. 183, Leander Businesses for the soon-to-beconstructed Sage Plaza have been announced. Tenants within the plaza will include Starbucks, Tee's Donuts, Marco's Pizza and a nail salon. The plaza is a 14,000-square-foot center slated to be completed by mid2025.

Costco State Hwy. 29 & U.S. Hwy. 183, Liberty Hill Costco recently had a site permit approved at Seward Junction. It will include a retail warehouse and a fuel center.

• Lori Lynn's Antiques Online, Liberty Hill • OCI Liquor Store 1040 Hwy. 29, Bertram

SERVICES TexTerra Solutions Liberty Hill TexTerra Solutions, owned by locals Charlie Lisk and Colton Cunningham, is a

newly launched land services company based in Liberty Hill. The company specializes in providing tailored solutions for residential and commercial building projects across Central Texas, including land clearing, grading, site preparation, landscaping and erosion control.

approximately $3.6 million and plans to spend an additional $2 million dollars in improvements to the building. With a projected opening in August 2025, the building will be the future home of LHISD maintenance and operations and the LHISD Police Department.

The Boxing Academy ATX 201 CR 214, Liberty Hill (inside The Iron Plate Gym) Local resident and professional boxer Ray Lugo is opening The Boxing Academy ATX in Liberty Hill for both professional and amateur boxing lessons for men, women and children.

The program will run out of The Iron Plate Gym at District 29.

Jardin Plaza strip center in early February. The new location will give the bike shop more space for its growing inventory.

A grand opening celebration is planned for Feb. 4.

Thirsty Penguin 14751 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill Thirsty Penguin recently announced it will be opening a thrid location in Lampasas, in the previous space housed

by Lampases Beer Barn. The original location is in Liberty Hill, while the second location is in Burnet.

Julie Kiley

Freedom Fuel Co. Mobile, Liberty Hill Freedom Fuel Co. is a mobile fuel delivery service launching in January that will offer convenient refueling solutions for both individual and corporate clients.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• Suds Deluxe Car Wash 10731 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill • Anytime Fitness 2021 Kaufman Loop, Liberty Hill • Cactus Blossom Permanent Makeup 15500 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill (inside Wild West Salon)

ON THE MOVE LHISD/Higginbotham Brothers 12500 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill Liberty Hill Independent School District recently purchased the former Higginbotham Brothers building for

Julie Kiley, Williamson County 710 Main St., Georgetown The Williamson County district judges have re-appointed Julie Kiley to a second two-year term of service as county auditor. Kiley has served in the auditor’s office for 30 years.

Before her appointment as county auditor, she served as first assistant county auditor for 18 years.

Alejandro Rodriguez, Foils & Fades 1201 Main St., Liberty Hill Alejandro Rodriguez is the new barber at Foils & Fades in Liberty Hill. Rodriguez brings 11 years of experience to the salon and offers services like hot towel treatments and against-the-grain shaves.

Glenny Bee Boutique 15395 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill Glenny Bee Boutique closed its location in Jardin Plaza at the end of December. The boutique is moving to a new location in Liberty Hill in the first quarter of 2025, which has not yet been announced.

Freedom Bikes 1201 Main St., Liberty Hill Freedom Bikes announced in December that it will be moving to a new location in the

Hell or High Water Brewing 931 Main St., Liberty Hill Hell or High Water Brewing is rebranding to Float The River Brewing in early 2025.

Jo Ann Gonzalez, Rame Beauty Studio 12780 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill Jo Ann Gonzalez, owner of Pretty Little Glow, has joined the team at Rame Beauty Studio. Gonzalez specializes in facials, lash lifts and full body waxing.

OPENING A BUSINESS? JUST PROMOTED? MOVING LOCATIONS? SHARE YOUR BUSINESS NEWS WITH US! Email news@LHIndependent.com

Information gathered from the City of Liberty Hill, Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation, TDLR, LoopNet and Williamson County ESD No. 4.

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NEWS

CAMPO looks to 2050 transportation priorities Organization holds open house, survey for input on regional safety and long-range action plans

BY RACHEL N. MADISON

STAFF WRITER

This fall, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) held a public open house and survey seeking input on transportation priorities across Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays and Williamson counties. Feedback from the first public comment period, which closed on Nov. 27, will help guide CAMPO as it works toward long-range transportation and safety goals for the six-county region.

Currently, CAMPO has two regional action plans in place, explained CAMPO Community Outreach Manager Doise Miers.

This includes the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan, a long-range plan that anticipates the transportation needs and envisions solutions for the next 25 years, as well as its Regional Safety Action Plan, which aims to enhance traffic flow and reduce serious accidents.

The 2050 Plan, which is updated every five years, examines road and pedestrian and transit method improvements, and commuting pattern changes through a process of public and stakeholder engagement and project sponsor submissions. Sponsors include Capital Metro, TxDOT and Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, all of whom submit upcoming projects to CAMPO for inclusion in their long-range plan. The projects include everything from sidewalk and bike lane updates to congestion mitigation strategies to transit investments and safety enhancements.

The Regional Safety Action Plan (RSAP) is designed to address broader regional safety concerns by reducing fatal and serious injury crashes and enhancing transportation systems. This plan includes county-specific plans for road design revisions, policy changes, traffic enforcement, and equitable investments in historically underserved communities.

Both plans are multimodal, said Miers.

“They look not only at roads and highways, but different modes of transportation like walking, biking, and transit,” she said.

Miers added CAMPO is also actively considering the role that emerging technologies are going to play in shaping future transportation.

Both plans had their first public comment period this fall, which sought public input on current transportation methods, needs, and expectations of how those needs

This fall, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization held a public open house and survey seeking input on transportation priorities across Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays and Williamson counties.

COURTESY GRAPHICS

may change over the next 25 years.

“This phase focuses on collecting valuable data and input about community needs and priorities,” said Miers.

CAMPO received over 200 survey responses for the 2050 plan, with 95 percent of respondents reporting that they travel primarily in a personal vehicle. Many expressed the desire for more accessible and affordable public transportation, as well as walking and biking paths, in the future.

Notable public feedback from the RSAP included the need to address speed enforcement and distracted driving.

CAMPO plans to use this feedback to identify projects and policies that meet the goals and objectives of the community, said Miers.

Both plans will hold a second public comment period in early 2025 to receive additional input before the official plans are presented to CAMPO’s Transportation

Policy Board for action in May. “Before the CAMPO board takes this up for discussion, the draft project list will go out to the public for review and comments,” said Miers. “There will be a public hearing

before final adoption of the plans.”

All plans will also be posted publicly on CAMPO’s website.

The approved RSAP will include recommendations for safety issues and needs noted by the public and local jurisdictions, but as many roads are maintained and operated by TxDOT, the state, or individual jurisdictions, Miers said it will be up to local jurisdictions as to what that timeline [for implementation] looks like and all projects will also be dependent on funding.

Miers encourages the public to review details of the plans on the “Plans and Studies” page of the CAMPO website (www. campotexas.org) and submit their feedback in upcoming public comment periods.

“Letting our board know what the public’s needs are really helps toward being able to prioritize projects, especially when considering how to allocate funding,” she said.

“There’s not enough transportation funding to go around for all the needs that we have, especially in a region that’s growing as quickly as we are. It’s good for our board to hear that public feedback so that they have a good sense of the public’s needs and priorities as they look to allocate those federal transportation dollars.”

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

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EDUCATION

LHISD has ‘no intention of adopting’ optional Bible-infused material

BY RACHEL N. MADISON

STAFF WRITER

On Nov. 22, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) voted to approve the optional use of religious materials in public schools as part of their Bluebonnet Learning curriculum.

The decision to adopt the state-developed instructional materials is up to individual districts, but those who choose to incorporate it will receive additional state funding at a rate of $40 per student per year, with an additional $20 per student per year for ordering printed copies of Bluebonnet materials. The curriculum could be taught in elementary classrooms as early as 2025.

In a press release on Nov. 26, the SBOE stated the “high-quality instructional materials (HQIM)” were approved through the Instructional Materials Review and Approval process, which includes a “rigorous and transparent review of the submitted materials.” The review “included a monthslong public comment period paired with open testimony during the September and November meetings. Feedback collected from these sessions helped refine and finalize the materials to ensure that they aligned with state standards and meet the needs of Texas students and teachers.”

The press release also stated that the “newly approved list of HQIM includes K-5 English language arts and reading and Spanish language arts and reading, K-3 English and Spanish phonics and K-12 mathematics.” All “resources are designed to support educators and improve student academic outcomes while maintaining alignment with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).”

Some materials incorporate Bible stories and religious references as a means of instruction for several subjects. This decision has sparked debate on the role religious material plays in Texas classrooms.

Many, including concerned Liberty Hill parent Kimmie Fink, believe the use of Bible material is a Constitutional violation of the First Amendment’s separation of church and state.

Fink spoke against the program in front of the SBOE in September.

“My concern with it is I feel it is a violation of the separation of church and state,” she told The Independent.

Fink is raising her family Catholic, but acknowledges not everyone in the community is Christian.

“We have a lot of people of many differ-

ent religions and those religions aren’t reflected in the curriculum,” she said.

“There’s an overwhelming emphasis on Christianity and very little mention of other religions, specifically modern-day world religions. I think if the Founding Fathers had wanted to establish a national religion, they would have explicitly done so. Instead, they did the opposite.”

As a teacher with a master’s degree in education, Fink explained she has no problem with students learning about world religions, but believes it should be reserved for high school classrooms or the home.

“I’ve worked with small children and they have a really hard time distinguishing between historical truth and faith claims,” she said. “This curriculum is not clear.

When it gives stories as faith claims, it presents them as historical truth. This curriculum puts barriers for kids who don’t share that faith because it makes them feel unwelcome in their schools. We know feeling like you belong in school is essential for young kids.”

Like Fink, many argue the incorporation of Bible-infused material, largely centering around the Christian faith, alienates students from diverse religious backgrounds and even contradicts core Christian teachings.

Liberty Hill parent Sherril Basta, who has two children in the Liberty Hill Independent School District, reached out to the SBOE in an email correspondence in November, urging the board to vote against the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum.

She stated the curriculum was harmful to students and teachers alike because it excludes and alienates diverse communities, misplaces educational priorities, overburdens teachers and violates core Christian teachings emphasizing humility, love and free will.

“As a Christian, I believe it is my responsibility – not the government’s – to teach my children about Christ,” Basta said.

“My faith calls me to love my neighbors and respect their beliefs, not impose my own. Public education is meant to unite us in shared academic goals, not divide us by prioritizing one religion over others.

Introducing a curriculum like Bluebonnet Learning contradicts these principles, alienating students from non-Christian backgrounds and undermining the separation of church and state – a cornerstone of our democracy.”

“Christ never sought to impose His teachings on others,” Basta added. “In-

stead, He led by example The State Board of Education approved the and invitation. This curriculum risks turning Bluebonnet Learning curriculum in Novemchildren away from ber 2024 for use by faith by presenting it as school districts across mandatory rather than Texas. LHISD Superpersonal.” intendent Steve Snell Basta believes the said the district has no SBOE should instead intention of adopting prioritize advocating for the new curriculum. resources that directly COURTESY GRAPHsupport students and ICS teachers, including higher pay, smaller class but encourages everyone to see the issue sizes, and evidence-based academic tools. from both sides and explained even ChrisSome Texans, however, believe the tians hold different interpretations of the Bible holds valuable historical and literary creation story. teachings that should be incorporated into “Would you want somebody who classrooms. believes a different interpretation to be Liberty Hill parent Jennifer Doerschlag teaching your child?” she said. “Or somesaid she supports incorporating lessons one who isn’t a Christian to be teaching on the Christian faith into schools and your child about religion? No, you’d want believes these teachings can explain the to choose a church that teaches what you values that shaped much of the American believe.” culture, but still believes they must be “I understand a lot of people just want presented in an age-appropriate way. to share the love of Jesus,” Fink added. “I “I have a political science degree and I think we should look to the gospels and think having a basic rudimentary undersee how Jesus shared his love – it was standing of different religions is important through acts of service and not through if you’re going to be an educated person,” indoctrination. I think the best way to give she said. “A lot of the literature we read children hope is to teach them to read and was founded on Christian or Judeo-Christo think critically so they can make their tian ideals. That framed the way [our own decisions.”

Founding Fathers] did things – how they LHISD Superintendent Steve Snell told lived their lives and how our country was The Independent he didn’t yet have enough created.” information to comment on the BluebonStill, Doerschlag admits she has connet Learning curriculum, but said LHISD cerns about overall curriculum implemenhas no intention of adopting it at this time. tation.

He added that the implementation of any “Frankly, the curriculum hasn’t been new curriculum is a massive undertaking explained well – we don’t know from what that takes years. point of view they’re going to be teaching “Any curriculum we choose would have it,” she said. “I’d be curious to know exactly to be vetted through our staff and would how they’re going to decide who’s qualified need to be board approved,” said Snell. to teach what.”

For more information on the SBOE’s Doerschlag said she is against any Bluebonnet Learning curriculum, visit tea. curriculum that would seek to proselytize texas.gov/academics/instructional-materichildren. als/bluebonnet-learning.

Fink believes people who support the curriculum are coming from a good place,

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

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COMMUNITY

Residents face fire concerns due to unregulated fireworks Santa Rita residents call for increased precaution

BY RACHEL N. MADISON

STAFF WRITER

Despite drought conditions, there are currently no county-specific fireworks restrictions for Williamson County. This has led to increasing concerns from residents who fear the risk of fireworks-induced fires, especially around firework-centric holidays like New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July.

For Santa Rita Estates residents Maydale and Larry Foust, the dangers of unregulated fireworks use are all too real. On Halloween night, they awoke to a fire raging on their property. By the time the Fousts made it to the part of their ranch where the fire was located, firefighters had largely contained the fire, but much of their property had already been damaged.

“While the firemen were at our property trying to put the fire out, I could still hear people popping fireworks,” Maydale Foust told The Independent.

On Nov. 2, the couple recalled hearing more fireworks being shot off from within their subdivision. Concerned and still reeling from their experience two nights before, they reported it to the Williamson County Sheriff ’s Office and confronted the residents, urging them to stop.

While the Fousts are thankful no one was injured in the incident, local firefighters had to disengage two cattle gates on their property and cut a wire fence to access the fire, resulting in thousands of dollars of property damages. No perpetrator has been identified.

Foust assured that the fireworks being shot off in the Santa Rita subdivision weren’t smallscale poppers or sparklers.

“These fireworks were large,” she said.

“They make a huge ball of fire in the air. When that stuff comes down, it lands directly on the roofs of the houses.”

In an email communication to Maydale Foust on Nov. 5, the manager of the Santa Rita community, Joni Collins, assured that there is a “no fireworks policy for Santa Rita Ranch.”

“Residents are not authorized to discharge fireworks in their yards or driveways by governing covenants. However, we do have instances where this rule is being circumvented because the streets are under county jurisdiction, and we have no way or means to prevent or regulate that,” Collins continued.

The incident has left the Fousts scared and angered about the lack of regulatory action.

On Dec. 6, Williamson County lifted its existing burn ban, furthering frustrations.

“This land has been in my husband’s family for 128 years,” Maydale Foust said. “We’ve had six generations live here and have lived and worked the property for 45 years. We were hoping to be able to enjoy our home and living on this land in our retirement. “The whole situation has been heartbreaking.”

Following their experience, the Fousts are committed to preventing future incidents.

Over the past month, Maydale Foust has contacted county commissioners, Williamson County, fire departments, and the Williamson County Sheriff ’s Office about fireworks regulations but received limited responses.

When it comes to regulatory policies, Yvonne Ramirez, senior communications specialist for Williamson County, told The Independent that “the power to restrict fireworks falls to the cities and the state legislature,” as well as HOA deed restrictions.

“Residents in unincorporated areas can give input to their state legislators regarding the

Liberty Hill residents Maydale and Larry Foust’s pasture was destroyed by a fire caused from fireworks on Oct. 31, 2024. COURTESY PHOTO state laws on fireworks,” Ramirez said.

According to statute Sec. 352.051: Regulation of Restricted Fireworks from the Texas Local Government Code (LGC), county commissioners may enact ordinances prohibiting or restricting fireworks within unincorporated areas of the county “when conditions on rural acreage in the county not under cultivation for a period of at least 12 months are determined to be extremely hazardous for the danger of fire because of high grass or dry vegetation.”

“The county may designate one or more areas of appropriate size and accessibility in the county as safe areas where the use of restricted fireworks is not prohibited, and the legislature encourages a county to designate such an area for that purpose,” the statute continues.

On Dec. 10, the Burnet County Commissioners Court adopted an order prohibiting certain fireworks in unincorporated areas of the county through Jan. 2.

The order stated the normal danger of fire as being “greatly enhanced” by existing drought conditions, as outlined by the Texas Forestry Service, and prohibits “the sale or use of restricted fireworks for unincorporated areas of the county.”

Restricted fireworks refer to items including “skyrockets with sticks” and “missiles with fins,” not Class C explosives. It further classifies any intentional violation of the restrictions as a Class C misdemeanor.

The U.S. Drought Monitor lists 60 percent of Burnet County as experiencing a “moderate drought,” with nearly 40 percent as being in a “severe drought.”

By the same metrics, 11 percent of Williamson County is listed as experiencing a “moderate drought,” with 88 percent of the county falling under “severe drought” conditions.

Maydale Foust wishes Williamson County

had taken action to put a similar ban in place.

Due to legal limitations, any implemented fireworks bans would have had to be implemented prior to Dec. 15.

“This is exactly what we’ve been trying to get our commissioners to do,” she said following the Burnet County order. “The fireworks Burnet is prohibiting is exactly what the fire marshal told us started the fire in our pasture.

I wish Williamson County had put this in place.”

Maydale Foust believes any fireworks use should be controlled and managed by a licensed professional.

“An event being hosted in a controlled environment – that is what we would like to see,” she told The Independent. “We are praying to get something done on this to prevent someone losing a home, a life, a pet or damage to their property.”

Even without a county-wide ban, Maydale Foust urges everyone to consider the risks of fireworks use going into any big holiday, and to keep watch of windy and dry weather conditions.

“I don’t want anybody else to go through what we have gone through,” she said.

Ramirez said Williamson County “does not have any formal guidelines (regarding the use of fireworks) aside from state regulations, but we encourage people to use [web] sources for safe use of fireworks.”

“Stay clear of homes, storage buildings and other structures when igniting fireworks,” she added. “To avoid grass fires, be sure to avoid dry grass, brush or other debris that can easily be ignited.”

Ramirez also said Williamson County’s GIS department has created a fireworks map to outline where fireworks are allowed and banned within the county. To learn more about county drought metrics, visit drought. gov. Call 911 immediately to report a fire.

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

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TRAVEL

Rustic adventure close to home Sonora features cavern complex, natural beauty

BY BRAD MARTIN

STAFF WRITER

They say that beauty comes from within.

The ugly duckling, complete with its tattered feathers and asymmetrical beak, possesses a kindred spirit of stunning regard, though its shell might leave much to be desired from the discerning eye.

Sonora, Texas, home of one of the most unique and beautiful cavern systems in the entire world, once fit well into this category as I’ve always had trouble finding the beauty in a West Texas landscape. However, after a long weekend spent above and below its ground, a beautiful swan emerged in place of the aforementioned ugly duckling and forever changed the eye of this beholder. Come along as we travel to the edge of the Texas Hill Country as it so kindly introduces us to the West.

The drive from Liberty Hill to Sonora sure is easy on the eyes, but not so much on the stomach. As you make your way through the charming towns of Llano and Mason, the BBQ gods come calling, so if you aren’t in a hurry and you feel like questioning your eating habits for the second half of the drive, then take your pick from some of the best joints in the state. After that, it’s smooth sailing down Interstate 10 West as the mileage countdown comes to an end at mile marker 400.

Sonora is a small town, so it was only a matter of a few short minutes and we pulled into the driveway of what we would soon discover to be more of a time capsule than an AirBnB. Still wrapping up my workday on my laptop, I had my blinders on as I raced towards a looming deadline. I soon exited the car and took the first steps towards an inviting front porch. As soon as I walked through the door, I felt like I was in that scene from Jurassic Park where Sam Neill physically turns a distracted Laura Dern’s head – pointing it towards the incredible sight that stood before them.

That’s exactly what this house did to me.

As if this old house was an elder, it demnded my respect and attention – I was stopped in my tracks and I could do nothing but stand there in awe as I realized just what I had walked into. Sensory overload is the term that keeps coming to mind, but that is usually used in a negative connotation, and this was anything but. Whatever you want to call it, I had stepped into the most beautiful Victorian cottage, built sometime in the early 19th century. As I slowly started to walk through the foyer and into the bedroom, each step offered one antique relic after another, and the floors welcomed me with their creaks and moans, just like the sound of the ocean’s waves as they greet the shoreline.

As I ventured from room to room, I was nearly convinced that I’d been swept back in

Old-fashioned archetecture is one of most charming features in the town of Sonora. PHOTO BY BRAD MARTIN

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5

The Caverns of Sonora offer an underground adventure that is millions of years old. PHOTO BY BRAD MARTIN

time. There are simply no words to accurately describe my amazement with this place, and that quickly turned into a deep connection as this house and I became fast friends. To put it best, I would come back to Sonora for no other reason than to stay in the house.

The whole family instantly fell in love with the house, so it was at least an hour before any of us made mention of what to do next.

We decided on a late dinner just off the beaten path in downtown Sonora. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to visit a home in the interior of Mexico and have a wonderfully prepared meal by someone’s sweet abuela, head to Lala’s Mexican Restaurant. It’s also where you’ll find the coldest beer west of Williamson County.

Tired from the week, the road and now a hearty meal, there wasn’t much in the form of after-dinner activities. After another walkthrough of our newfound time capsule, we were down for the count.

After rising from a much needed peaceful night’s sleep, I lazily wandered the house, taking in the pictures on the walls, trinkets on the shelf and antique furniture pieces throughout the house. I thumbed through a few of the books that sat patiently on the coffee table in the family room, made some coffee, and then got moving about my morning.

But, it wasn’t long before the house pulled me back in and my obsession took back over. I sat in the family room for a bit as I dove a bit deeper into one of the books I had my eye on from my morning case of wanderlust.

I was finally able to pull away long enough to grab some donuts from Sonora’s lone doughnut shop, Snowflake Donuts. After a quick breakfast back at the house, it was time to head out. We hopped in the car and headed towards what would soon be an epic discovery followed by the most surreal two hours in recent memory. We were headed underground… deep into The Caverns of Sonora.

A few miles west of town, in the literal middle of nowhere, you’ll find the caverns.

This private and sprawling ranch stretches as far as the eye can see and then some. It’s a strikingly beautiful place that proudly displays every detail of every western themed painting there ever was. Its beauty, just as those old paintings project, is that of a rugged nature, complete with sharp, jagged rocks, prickly cacti and thorny mesquite brush. An above ground tour of the place would satisfy any adventure seeker’s craving for a fun-filled day on a ranch steeped in history, yet just beneath its surface, the adventure dial is turned up all the way to eleven and beauty takes on some of the rarest forms imaginable.

After a brief pause at the main entrance of the cave for a bit of a history lesson regarding the origins of the cave, it was down some concrete steps and into an entirely new world.

Waiting at the bottom of the staircase was a glass door. It was closed and was laden with condensation on the inside of the glass. One by one, the group walked through the door, each of them letting out an audible “whoa” as

TRAVEL they entered the cave. I quickly learned why and did the exact same thing after stepping through myself. In an instant, the temperature went from cold and breezy outside to seventy-one degrees and about ninety percent humidity. I now understood what they meant by the term ‘warm-weather cave’. I remember us being a bit puzzled by our tour guide’s request for everyone to remove their jackets and sweaters before entering but I’m sure glad we did. The last thing that you or anyone will ever need down there is a jacket.

I’ve thought for days on how I might describe the tour of this expansive and mesmerizingly beautiful cavern, and I’m still unsure of how to proceed. Imagine for a second that you were recently abducted by aliens and you are now tasked with describing your experience in words. The ship, the aliens themselves, the language - none of it bears any resemblance to anything you’ve ever seen or heard of, yet you must somehow describe it. That’s about how I feel trying to do this cave anywhere near the justice it deserves. So, that being said, all I can say is that there are probably very few accessible places on this entire planet where such unique and unimaginable beauty exists. The ways in which these formations came to be - over the course of millions of years – seem to defy every ounce of logic.. I could write for hours about all that I saw and learned, but it would never carry the immensity that the personal experience did.

This cave has a soul as it is, quite literally, a living thing. “Active” is the term that is used amongst geologists but it is indeed alive and you feel every bit of this when you’re inside of it. I keep referencing the Pinocchio scene in my head where they’re inside the whale, and you can see the “walls” of the whale moving as it breathed. This cave carried a very similar vibe throughout the tour and I would highly recommend you put this place on your bucket list, considering that one of the world’s most famous caves lies a few short hours away. As I am sure my words fail to come even close to capturing this experience, you’ll clearly understand why once you’ve taken the tour yourself.

I took close to a hundred photos and I probably captured one millionth of all that is to be captured inside this cave, most likely even less than that. As our tour guide said - and he is absolutely right - you could tour this cave every day of the rest of your life and not even come close to seeing everything it had to offer.

Back above ground, two things quickly registered with us. One – the adrenaline of the tour wore off and we realized just how exhausting a two hour cave tour that traversed up and down almost four hundred stair steps could be. Two – we realized just

Sonora is close to home, but diverse in appearance. PHOTO BY BRAD MARTIN how much of an appetite said tour could produce. We were now ravenous, so I hit the overdrive as we headed back to town for a BBQ feast fit for a king, queen, and a pretty little princess. The place was Pit Stop BBQ and it had all that one would expect a Texas BBQ joint to have, including some of the most delicious coleslaw I’ve ever tasted. Being that we, as Central Texans, have so many incredible options for barbecued meats, it’s sometimes hard to appreciate some of the more traditional BBQ establishments as our palettes have become so accustomed to being knocked off our feet. This BBQ may not have been anything to write home about, but it was mighty fine and it did its job as well as any other.

After the late lunch, we all retreated to our own devices for a bit. I decided to do some exploring outside of the house. It was a perfect Fall day weather-wise and the house sat on a huge lot that sat alongside Dry Devil’s River. The old stone wall that lined the creekside was in unbelievable shape for its age. Whoever built that wall a long, long time ago knew exactly what they were doing. The rest of the yard that surrounded the house was just open land with a gravel driveway but I still felt like I had gone back in time. There was something so special about that little patch of the world that made me feel like my soul had been there before. I know that sounds a bit silly but, to me, this was so much more than just a cute little cottage in an old historic town and I am certain that I’m not the first one to feel this way about this magical little place.

Later that evening, dinner came calling and it was time to visit a wonderful Mexican food restaurant called La Mexicana that is known for its – chicken fried steaks? It caught me off guard as well but I’m not one to turn down a good old fashioned chicken

fry, so I selected the traditional one from a long menu of very interesting takes on this tried and true dinnertime treat. As soon as it hit the table, it quickly made sense why this place was known for them. It was better than the Mexican food, if that tells you anything.

On our way back to the house we swung into the Dairy Queen drive thru to satisfy our daughter’s sweet tooth. Who would’ve thought that seven year olds love ice cream?

Mind boggling, huh? One dipped cone later and we were back at the house. I made an attempt at some late night writing, but my eyes were entirely too heavy. I crawled into bed with such a happy heart from the day and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, after wrapping up some writing and chasing it with a strong cup of coffee, I stepped outside and noticed that we had been staying two blocks away from The Sutton County Courthouse. I tell ya, folks - I’ve never been accused of being the sharpest knife in the drawer, but this one raises the bar in terms of how blind I can sometimes be to treasure that is sitting right in front of me. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I am a sucker for a Texas Courthouse.

Consistently located in beautiful town

squares, they offer a rich history atop the most beautiful landscapes – two of my favorite things. I quickly grabbed my camera and the little one and I were off on a daddy-daughter adventure.

The grounds of this place were breathtaking. The courthouse sits on the highest point in town and is surrounded by a beautiful stone retaining wall.

Giant, gorgeous oaks blanket the property with their massive canopies, and the monuments throughout invite reflection in silent admiration. Our daughter loves to take pictures and has her camera with her everywhere she goes so she and I enjoyed every minute of this quiet and peaceful little tour. On our way out, we stumbled onto an actual time capsule and it gave me an opportunity to teach her just what a time capsule was. It was such a fitting way to end our time in Sonora.

We made our way back to the house and finished packing our things and cleaning up. Once we were ready to head out, it was one last lap through the house, almost as if we were thanking it for its warm and kind hospitality during our stay.

It was so hard to walk out of that door for the last time, but I have a strong feeling that it won’t be the last.

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

13

COVER STORY

To the Rescue Kitten in storm drain saved by determined local firefighters

BY BRAD MARTIN

STAFF WRITER

There’s something to be said about a local fire department.

As a young child’s eyes sparkle as bright as the Milky Way at the mere sight of a shiny red fire truck, communities across this great nation often rekindle those childhood fascinations as they watch the brave men and women from stations near and far answer the call from those in need of rescue.

In sprawling metropolises and small towns alike, a firefighter’s reach spans far and wide – from medical first response and structure fires to the Norman Rockwell-esque scene of rescuing a kitten from a tree.

As reality can often offer much less glamour than the All-American photo opportunity, heroism shines just as bright as one would expect to see on the silver screen. Rather than a tall, perfectly manicured tree that lines any given street in Smalltown, USA, a storm drain sets the scene of a recent valiant effort of the Liberty Hill Fire Department to rescue a soon to be famous kitten – aptly named Storm.

In the early morning hours of Nov. 29, a crew from Liberty Hill Fire Station 1 was dispatched to the Stonewall Ranch neighborhood after a call had come in reporting a kitten that was believed to be stuck in a storm drain. Josh Brown was one of the firefighters on that crew and after the crew’s first rescue

attempt failed, leaving them empty-handed, there was a lingering uneasiness throughout the day amongst Brown and his fellow crewmembers. The desire to return and make another attempt became too strong to ignore.

“We hated that we left that call unsuccessful – it didn’t sit right,” said Brown. “Later that evening, we ran a call that was near that area, so I asked my captain if we could return.”

Upon the blessing of their superior, Acting Captain Lieutenant Jesse Solorzano, the second attempt brought with it the proverbial kitchen sink as Brown, along with driver-operator Jonathan Dunlap and firefighter Brett Johnson, tried time and time again to access the storm drain via the manholes atop the drain itself as well as the ones in the street.

“We couldn’t get this one manhole open, which would have allowed us to get in there and corral her in,” Brown said. “She’s quick and she’s super small, so she kept getting right out of [our] grasp.”

Brown and crew pulled out all the stops.

From entering the storm drain gutter and using a positive pressure fan to coax her out, to putting out food while playing cat noises on their phones, each attempt came up short.

The crew even worked together to try and remove the manhole as a team, but it just wouldn’t budge.

They had all but given up as they decided to head back to the station – where dinner had been waiting for almost two hours. Howev-

A kitten named Storm was rescued by the Liberty Hill Fire Department. PHOTO BY BRIEN AHO

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5

Above and right, Storm the kitten was rescued and adopted by City of Liberty Hill firefighter Josh Brown.

PHOTOS BY BRIEN AHO er, still unwilling to leave unsuccessfully, Brown made one last attempt at removing the manhole.

“I was like, let me go try it one more time and we popped it,” he said, adding the whole crew was ecstatic at the sight. “So we both (Dunlap and I) went down and got her.”

In hindsight, even though she was in need of rescue, it seems Storm may have been playing hard to get.

According to Brown, there were multiple times where she would be at his or the other crew men’s fingertips. But, the slightest movement from either one of them would send Storm darting away and back out of reach.

Brown was strictly business as he worked tirelessly to bring her to safety but, after the many rounds of cat-and-mouse, Brown was earning more than her rescue – he was earning her heart.

Alongside his girlfriend, Samantha Flood, there had been a mutual desire to bring another cat into their household to provide some company and companionship to their other cat, named Padame. They had both agreed that a new addition to the family wouldn’t be something they actively pursued but, in the case where something fell into their laps (or came out of a storm drain), they would take it as a sign. During a specific moment during the rescue, Brown reflected on that thought and realized the universe was listening.

“That first time when I almost got her – as soon as she ran down, I was like – ‘This could’ve been it.’” he said.

After that, Brown answered back and became determined to rescue Storm for a whole new reason.

“I kind of forced fate there and said ‘Nah, I’m going to get her,’” he said, and get her, he did.

A couple of weeks into her new life at home in Santa Rita Ranch, Storm is adjusting well to her surroundings – quite the upgrade from the cold, dark, damp confines of a storm drain. Although Padame is still adjusting to her fluffy yet rambunctious new friend, the Brown house has a newfound balance as they recently celebrated their first Christmas as a family of four.

The son of a police officer, Brown recalls his father encouraging him to take a slightly different path rather than following in his footsteps.

“My dad’s a police officer with the City of Austin and he gave me the wise advice of going the firefighter route,” said Brown. “He actually said ‘Go be a hose dragger instead,’ and he was so right. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I love my job. I can’t believe I actually get paid to do it.”

Brown said he doesn’t only have a love for the Liberty Hill Fire Department, but the community in general.

He said his commitment has grown right alongside Liberty Hill, and he and his colleagues find great value in just what it means to serve such a tight-knit group of residents at the highest level possible.

“It’s not just a job – it’s a calling,” said Brown. “The reason why I think everyone agreed to going back [to rescue Storm] is because we want 110 percent all the time.

All of the guys and gals of the Liberty Hill Fire Department want to do the very best job possible and help out any way they can.

Connecting with the community is one of our primary missions.”

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Chamber Corner

libertyhillchamber.org | (512) 548-5533

1st Friday - Breakfast 2nd Tuesday - Women in Business 4th Thursday - Networking Luncheon Check our events calendar for details

The Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome the f lowing businesses this month:

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

15

NEWS

Read our round up to learn more about the biggest news stories affecting our community COMPILED BY LIBERT Y HILL INDEPENDENT STAFF

Mancilla proclaims Dec. 14 ‘Liberty Hill Day’ At a December council meeting, Mayor Crystal Mancilla welcomed Steve Schiff, president of the Chamber of Commerce to join her as she expressed gratitude for the Chamber’s partnership and announced the declaration of “Liberty Hill Day.” “[Schiff ] has done an incredible job with working with our community and our local businesses and bringing everyone together, and championing every business in Liberty Hill,” she said. “As we’re growing, we want to keep those small businesses alive and well and make sure they feel heard and supported.”

She stated that the proclamation recognizes “the cooperative relationship between the city, the Chamber of Commerce, the Liberty Hill Independent School District, and the Liberty Hill Education Foundation. The cooperative efforts are just one illustration of our big heart values, the belief in investment in our community, and each other.”

The mayor then made the official proclamation that Dec. 14, 2024, would be “Liberty Hill Day,” and encouraged “all citizens to consider with gratitude the civic leaders in our community and the contributions they make on behalf of all of our lives.”

This date aligned with the Jingle Bell 5K, 1K Fun Run, Christmas festival and parade, making it special day of celebration. More than 400 Liberty Hill citizens registered and ran at the 5K event.

Council awards water, wastewater project to M&C Fonseca Construction At a December meeting, the council motioned to approve awarding the construction contract for a waterline replacement and downtown wastewater extension project to M&C Fonseca Construction at a bid value of $1,795,714.

Public Works Project Manager James Herrera provided an overview of the bid and

16

reviewal process to council, stating that M&C Fonseca was the lowest qualified bidder and recommended approval. Since both projects utilize American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the city was required to have the funds under contract before Dec. 31, 2024.

Herrera stated that the $1.7 million bid was well valued and applauded the work of staff and engineering for collaborating to reduce expenses for the project as much as possible.

City strives to help homeless woman Council opened a discussion about an initiative to support a local unhoused citizen during a December council meeting. The initiative, dubbed Project Tina in honor of the citizen, seeks to support and provide housing for the woman.

“This has been an ongoing effort for some time. Since I’ve been here for the last two and a half years, we’ve tried to go through the county and state to try to find assistance for her,” said City Manager Paul Brandenburg.

“Private residents have also tried to assist her with shelter. There’s also a movement of people trying to work with Hope House and others to find her a permanent home in a shelter.”

As winter brings cold and inclement weather, the city is working to expedite this process and bring a tiny house, under 400 square feet, within city limits to encourage a safe settlement. The shelter will have running water and sewer access, and a local citizen has offered to cover electricity costs.

“This is a temporary fix until the larger effort is done,” said Council Member Diane Williams. “There will be mechanisms put in place to take care of the property, and there is an anonymous individual working with her to help her get free healthcare, free medicine, and to help her transition to the new area.”

“There’s no guarantee that she’d stay there, but I think as good stewards trying to move forward assisting someone in this community, we need to do this,” Brandenburg added.

Brandenburg brought the item to the council, asking for discretion in using limited city administrator funds to resolve any unforeseen changes to the project through the holidays. Council approved the use of funds

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5

under $200.

“It’s very beautiful to see the community coming together in helping and supporting her,” said Mayor Crystal Mancilla following the motion.

School board reviews annual financial report, considers bus route changes Accounting firm Pattillo, Brown & Hill, L.L.P presented Liberty Hill Indepen- Steve Schiff, president of the Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce, and Liberty dent School District’s Hill Mayor Crystal Mancilla stand together after Mancilla proclaimed Dec. 14 annual financial ‘Liberty Hill Day.’ PHOTO BY RACHEL N. MADISON report to the school One strategy that stood out was the potenboard Dec. 16, which tial for reducing transportation costs through reviewed the financial highlights for the greater bus route efficiency. Chief Operations 2023-2024 fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2024.

Officer Mark Willoughby presented a study The ISD’s general fund ended the fiscal on bus route impacts to the board. year with a balance of $15,676,426, a decrease Willoughby explained that more efficient of $770,436 from 2023. The board said the school bus routes could help reduce both the reduction in this year’s general fund balance time of student drop offs and save the district was to be expected due to increasing district significant transportation costs due to decosts and limited state funding. creased mileage. He suggested reducing the “We are going to realize a $7.5 million definumber of stops per neighborhood to align cit this year,” Superintendent Steve Snell said with the two-mile net zones that already exist at the meeting. “We’ve been working with around school zones. the admin team and principals to talk about “If a child lives within two miles of a how we can curb our spending to reduce this school, it is considered a ‘walk zone’ and we deficit for the coming year.” don’t offer buses,” Willoughby said.

The board stated a target expenditure reSeveral buses currently offer neighborduction of $4.6 million for the 2025-26 school hood stops that fall well below the two-mile year, not including raises. walk zone range.

They acknowledged that achieving this “Consolidating stops allows for streamgoal will require innovation, as expenditures lined routes that would reduce the overall are only expected to increase with a growing number of stops in various neighborhoods number of students and teachers, rising utilifrom 77 to 33,” he told the board. ty costs, and teacher step increases.

Willoughby added that fewer route stops They are considering many avenues for would also improve time efficiency and keep cutting costs, including rethinking the students safer via the ‘safety in numbers’ condistrict’s calendar for efficiency, increasing cept, while also reducing fuel consumption class size ratios, and cutting operational and leading to lower overall operational costs. program costs. They also considered the “These savings could be redirected to other revenue potential of adding fees for elective critical areas within our schools, commuand extracurricular programs, including nity programs and overall support of our sports. They clarified that scholarships students,” Willoughby said. would be accessible for those unable to pay No official cost-saving decisions were made the fees, as well as exemption qualifications at the meeting, but the board plans to decide to ensure kids can continue to participate in on bus route changes by mid-January and the activities they love, regardless of family alert parents if any changes are made. financial status.

NEWS

ISD considers 2025-26 calendar survey results, approves new courses

At the Dec. 16 school board meeting, Chief of Schools Travis Motal presented updates on a calendar feedback survey sent out to all parents and staff considering two mock calendars for the 2025-26 school year.

Goals of increasing valuable teacher planning time and overall greater instructional efficiency motivated the survey.

Calendar A follows a traditional model like the current district calendar and includes 168 student days. Feedback included notes of consistency and predictability within this option but concerns about necessary teacher planning time.

Motal described Calendar B as “more innovative.” It has three less student days, and the rest of the days are organized differently. The survey revealed that this could help create teacher planning and preparation time lacking in Calendar A but led to concerns about schedule inconsistency and childcare access.

Of the total 2,481 responses, 67 percent demonstrated support for Calendar A, with 12 percent not favoring the option. Calendar B received 57 percent overall support, with a 25.7 percent dissatisfaction for the option.

Given the survey feedback, the district plans to continue conversations about the schedules and clarify the differences to parents and staff.

“These calendars are not absolute; we’ve put a lot of time into creating them and are still in the process of vetting through the details and logistical aspects,” said Superin-

tendent Steve Snell.

The board also said they are still trying to find ways to maximize teacher planning time and are looking into childcare options.

“Incorporated teacher prep time is the most important thing so that teachers don’t have to add to their workload after the school day,” said Kathy Major, school board vice president. “If we want our teachers to be high performing, we need to give them the time to do so.”

In January, the calendars will be brought back to the District Education Improvement Committee, which is made up of parents and staff, for further conversations and comments, before they make a formal recommendation on adoption to be brought back to the board by February.

Following the calendar discussion, the board reviewed new innovative course offerings for Liberty Hill middle and high schools.

New high school courses include AP human geography for ninth graders to get AP credit; advancement via individual determination II for 10th graders as an extension of the AVID program; and team sports officiating, as an alternate PE credit for students to get certified and paid for officiating.

The district will also add an eighth-grade art option to the middle school to allow for eighth graders to earn a high school fine arts credit.

New CTE courses principles of architecture and graphic design and illustration will be added at Legacy Ranch High School.

Floral design practicum in AFNR; audio/ video production practicum; real estate marketing practicum; and entrepreneur-

ship practicum courses will all be added at Liberty Hill High School.

The board approved the new offerings, which will soon be published in the course planning guide for the 2025-26 school year.

Board reviews Elementary #8 final schematic design, approves max price VLK Architects presented the final schematic design for Elementary #8 to school board members for review at their Dec. 16 meeting. The new school will be located on a 12.65-acre tract within the Lariat subdivision, with an estimated completion date of summer 2026.

This will become the largest elementary school in the district, serving 1,000 students. The building, located off Country Road 214, will feature a two-story design with increased administrative, dining, fine arts, special programing and classroom capacity. One unique feature of the space is that library, art and science classrooms all have direct access to the outdoors, offering an array of outdoor learning opportunities across disciplines. The school will also feature a central courtyard space with a playscape and dual-purpose gym with an incorporated stage.

Once the final design is approved, construction is set to begin in January 2025 and continue through May 2026.

Following the design presentation, the board awarded the approved the guaranteed maximum price for the project of $5,875,493 to American Constructors. This will be funded by the 2023 bond program.

TCEQ holds public meeting on wastewater treatment plant

LHISD’S Elementary #8’s final design schemati was presented to the school board in December. Construction on the school is set to begin in early 2025. COURTESY RENDERING

On Dec 3, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) held a public meeting regarding the Santa Rita Upper Middlebrook Wastewater Treatment Plant (also known as the North Fork Wastewater Treatment Plant); a 1.4 million gallon per day (MGD) plant which is set to be built west of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and across the street from the homes that make up the Santa Rita Ranch community.

The meeting included representatives from the City of Liberty Hill, TCEQ, and Rep. Caroline Harris-Davila. Those in attendance came from Santa Rita Ranch, including the Saddleback and Regency communities; Divine Savior Academy; as well as those who live along the San Gabriel River, Sowes Branch Creek and County Road 258 in

Josh Armstrong is the new director of finance for the City of Liberty Hill. COURTESY PHOTO Liberty Hill.

The first hour of the meeting was an informal question and answer period, while the second hour was the formal comment period. Many aspects of the wastewater treatment plant were discussed, including design, financing, permitting, air quality and more.

The permit for the plant has not yet been granted by TCEQ. Residents were able to request a contested case hearing, of which at least 60 residents have done.

TCEQ will review these requests before making a final decision on the permit or holding a contested case hearing.

City announces hire of new director of finance Council welcomed the City of Liberty Hill’s new director of finance, Josh Armstrong, at a December meeting.

Armstrong joins Liberty Hill with a background in finance, city management and public administration experience. He graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in public administration and previously worked as assistant to the city manager in Willow Park and, most recently, as director of finance for the City of Justin.

Armstrong’s position officially started in early December.

“Armstrong dove in headfirst to our finance and budget and is doing a great job,” said City Manager Paul Brandenburg during the meeting.

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

17

THE HEART OF THE HILL

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SPORTS

Looking back, looking ahead Wranglers’ inaugural season on gridiron was highly successful

BY BRAD MARTIN

STAFF WRITER

The year 2024 saw witness to the birth of Legacy Ranch High School. Both literally and metaphorically, the foundation has been laid and the walls have gone up, but there’s still work to be done.

With its inaugural season now in the books, the Wranglers’ football program is wasting no time in tackling those details that will make the difference between victory and defeat moving forward.

The Year One jitters are gone, the unknowns are now known and the new faces are now familiar. Now comes the time to learn, train and prepare for what lies ahead.

Legacy Ranch Head Coach Tim Knicky summed up his take on season one and the football program as a whole.

“If I had to put a word on it, I’d say ‘successful,’” he said. “There’s so much that went into opening this place – to be able to get out there and play and win some games, lose some games and learn and grow – I’m super proud of our kids and everything they accomplished this year.”

In construction, the name of the game is speed and efficiency.

As the foundation and walls of program were built seemingly overnight, the reflection of the season behind them offers a slower-paced view of just how much they accomplished as a team.

“On both teams, I think we grew exponentially,” said Knicky, as he went down the list of all the new systems that had to be learned by the players and coaches alike and the fact that it was done by a freshmen squad in completely new surroundings. “I’m proud of our kids, I’m proud of how hard our coaches pushed our kids and looking back, I’m just super proud of all that we accomplished this year.”

As the focus shifted to the present day and the work being done in the offseason, an interesting dynamic has unfolded due to another common element throughout Legacy Ranch’s athletic program – versatility.

“We have a ton of kids playing a lot of different sports,” said Knicky, of the many players currently participating in other programs such as wrestling, soccer and basketball. “We’ve got guys competing, which

Legacy Ranch’s football program came charging out of the gates for what was ultimately a successful inaugural season. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

is really important. It’s a different sport, but competition breeds winners and our kids are winning – so that’s a good thing.”

Though it may fall far from the typical offseason, Knicky finds relativity throughout his group of players, whether they’re playing other sports or hitting the weight room each day. To him, it all adds up to the bigger picture.

“It’s just about getting the foundation under us,” he said. “Build the base and continue to flourish.”

From the very beginning, Knicky has

eighth graders to come aboard and be led towards success in their own right. “We’re going down there and we’re like – ‘We know what we’re building so get up here and help us and let’s get ready to roll.’”

As new leaders will inevitably emerge amongst the players, the team as a whole continues to put in the work to be successful on and off the field.

From Knicky’s vantage point, it seems that the arrows are all pointing in the same direction.

“They want to take this inaugural team all

“I think our kids now have a sense of confidence in the things they can accomplish – our kids are bought in.”

Tim Knicky Legacy Ranch Head Football Coach

Legacy Ranch Head Coach Tim Knicky successfully laid the foundation for the future of the Wranglers football program in its inaugural season. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

made it clear the program – as it should be – is all about the players. After a season of being the new team in town and as they double down on their initial buy-in, new opportunities to flourish – as Knicky put it – are emerging and will soon be at hand.

As the freshmen players elevate into the sophomore rank, the incoming freshmen will be ready to work – and leadership will start to take on many new forms.

“I think our kids now have a sense of confidence in the things they can accomplish – our kids are bought in,” he said as he and his squad now look to the incoming

the way and they want to be something special – and they’re going to be,” said Knicky.

When he puts himself in the locker room before Game One of the Wranglers’ second season, Knicky said he sees the collision of two worlds – past and present – leaving a path to the future as the smoke clears.

“It’ll be a lot about how we blend these two ‘greats’ together,” he said. “We did a lot of stuff this year that I’m proud of – and we were successful – but that really and truly has no bearing on this year ahead. We’re continuing to forge our legacy and getting ready to rock and roll.”

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

19

SPORTS

New kid on the court Former Panthers hoops rival now ally

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Usually when a player transfers in to a new school, he or she suddenly finds themselves surrounded by brand-new teammates, coaches and a court they’ve probably never before stepped foot on.

However, for Christian Faulkner, it was a different story altogether when the senior arrived on campus this season to suit up for the Purple-and-Gold.

You see, for the past three seasons, Faulkner plied his hoops trade right down the road as a member of Cedar Park’s varsity squad, where he faced the Panthers on many occasions as the Timberwolves’ starting point guard.

Now, after landing successfully on the opposite side of the fierce rivalry between the schools, Faulkner has settled quite nicely into his new basketball environment – although it wasn’t necessarily easy at the outset.

“At first, I had mixed feelings and didn’t know how it would go,” said Faulkner. “But, now that I’ve been here, I know I made the right decision.”

Perhaps the biggest challenge for Faulkner, though, has been switching from point to shooting guard after having been Cedar Park’s floor boss since his freshman season, but even that transition has been a smooth adjustment overall, he said.

“I’ve been a point guard my whole life, so shooting guard was definitely a different role for me to take on,” said Faulkner.

“Now, I have to be more aggressive on offense and have different responsibilities on defense.”

According to Liberty Hill head Blake Boren, one of the most important ingredients Faulkner brings to the table is an attribute nobody else on the current roster has.

“Christian is the only one on our team that has playoff experience,” said Boren, whose side has missed out on the postseason for the past two years. “Also, it’s good to have someone who’s seen and knows how to beat what we do.”

In addition to the player himself, father Ben Faulkner also joined Boren’s coaching staff as an assistant after having served in the same role at Cedar Park to go with being head coach at Westlake earlier in his career.

As a result, Boren sees a parallel between the father-son dynamic he’s very

familiar with himself.

“If anyone knows what it’s like to be a coach’s kid, I do,” said Boren, who played for father Barry during his days as a Liberty Hill player. “There’s a lot of pressure because you have to earn everything.”

Perhaps, but Faulkner said his father is a polar opposite personality away from the court.

“At school, my dad’s very loud,” he said.

“But, at home he’s more like a cuddly bear.”

In fact, on the personal side, Boren and the elder Faulkner go way back, he said.

“My dad would coach at summer camps with Ben,” said Boren. “So, I’ve actually known Christian longer than any of the other current players on my team.”

With fellow senior Marchel Timmons firmly ensconced as the Panthers’ starting point guard, Boren made sure he went about integrating Faulkner into the team so there would not be any awkwardness.

“When Christian got here, I was honest with him about what I wanted him to do,” said Boren. “He’s had to be big enough to swallow his pride and accept his role here, but he’s bought into what we do and immersed himself in our system.”

Of course, one way to immediately ingratiate oneself to new teammates is to hit a half-court, buzzer-beating, game-winning shot, as Faulkner did in Liberty Hill’s 6362 road win over Shoemaker earlier this season.

But, Faulkner said he was accepted into the Panthers’ fold long before his long-distance winner.

“When I came here, I found out everybody is a family and before I didn’t think there was that kind of culture here,” he said. “I had to prove myself to them in practice and be a friend and be nice, but with guys like Marchel and (senior) Jaxson (Scott), I didn’t need to have the same leadership role I did at Cedar Park. We have eight seniors on this team and I’m glad it’s something I’m now a part of.”

As far as when he faces his old teammates alongside his new ones for the first time, Faulkner is certain there will be some gamesmanship between he and his former mates, but he’s also sure of which side he now firmly resides on.

“It’ll be a fun game,”he said, of the Panthers’ first of two district contests against the Timberwolves on Jan. 10 at home before the road rematch on Feb. 4. “There will probably be some words exchanged, but it will be great to beat Cedar Park.”

20 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5

Liberty Hill’s Christian Faulkner (15) was Cedar Park’s starting point guard for three seasons before transitioning to shooting guard this year. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Panthers senior Christian Faulkner (15) is looking forward to playing his old teammates when Liberty Hill faces Cedar Park this season. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

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21

SPORTS

Making weight at a different level Wrestlers must adjust to varying classes over course of season

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

One aspect of wrestling that makes the sport truly unique compared to others is the fact competitors are divided into different weight classes, leaving grapplers to constantly adjust to the ever-changing tides of their own bodies over the course of a campaign.

Add to that only one wrestler per team can compete in each weight division and conundrums are created for coaches trying to fill out their lineups at a meet.

For example, Liberty Hill sophomore Lydia Miller has been wrestling at 152 pounds this season and has enjoyed success, but moving forward is more suited for a lighter class. However, blocking her at the 145 division is Panthers senior Aubree Schubert, who qualified for the Class 5A state tournament last season. Which means for Miller to move down, it must be all the way down to 138 or risk losing her place in the squad.

Although dropping two divisions representing 14 pounds might seem like a daunting proposition, Miller doesn’t quite see it that way.

“It’s not really that different,” said Miller, who recently finished second in the 152 class at the Pin-a-Palooza tournament in

Cedar Park, her best result to date. “You just need to have self-control with what you eat and make sure you get plenty of protein as opposed to carbs.”

According to Liberty Hill head coach Danny Zieschang, wrestlers switching weight classes midseason isn’t necessarily an unusual phenomenon.

“A lot of girls don’t start and end the season at the same weight,” said Zieschang, in his second season heading up the Panthers’ program. “It’s a pretty standard practice.”

In fact, many athletes can benefit and take advantage of competing at a lower weight, which many times comes as a pleasant surprise, he said.

“We could have a kid at 160, for example,” said Zieschang. “All of a sudden, he or she finds out they can be at 140 and be very successful.”

Cutting too much weight can be a sensitive subject, though, which is why there’s a measure in place to ensure when wrestlers drop weight, they do so in a healthy manner.

“At the beginning of each season, we have what’s known as a weight assessment,” he said. “Based on body-fat percentage, you can determine how much weight you can safely drop.”

Miller uses modern technology to monitor her status.

Panthers junior Ryan Bogle competes in the 144-pound weight class during Liberty Hill’s home meet against Georgetown earlier this season. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

22 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5

Liberty Hill sophomore Lydia Miller is moving down from the 152-pound weight division to the 138 class, where she will be able to build better on early-season success. PHOTOS BY LORA ORTIZ

“I have an app that allows me to check my calorie deficit,” she said. “So, that way, I can make sure I’m burning more calories than I’m consuming over the course of each day.”

After being encouraged to take up the sport by her father, Miller has grown to have a passion for it, she said.

“My dad was a high-school wrestler and he was always pushing for me to start,” said Miller. “Once, I tried it, I loved it because it’s an individual sport and very rewarding to see how you improve.”

But to do that, one must be willing to buy into the lifestyle the sport demands for those who want to be successful, she said.

“I’ve learned you really have to immerse yourself and be very disciplined,” said Miller. “A lot of it is mental because sometimes you have to push past physical pain – it can be very tough.”

Zieschang said it’s this kind of dedication he sees in wrestlers that go on to become champions.

“In addition to practice, you need to have the discipline to do all the little things on your own,” he said. “Like waking up early, going to the weight room and on runs at home to improve your conditioning.”

As the Panthers navigate their second season as a program, both the girls’ and boys’ squads continue to improve, said Zieschang.

“If you look at what our girls were able to do by finishing second out of 17 teams at that big meet in Cedar Park, it’s an indication of the overall quality of our roster,” he said.

“Our boys finished sixth, which is also really encouraging.”

Liberty Hill’s girls finished with 220.5 points behind only Smithson Valley, which posted 237.5. On the individual side, sophomore Alyciana Rodgers won the 235-pound

division, while Miller was second at 152 and Schubert placed third in the 145 class.

The Panthers’ boys compiled 222 points in sixth behind winners Cedar Park, who scored 338. Individually, the highest finishers were Kaleb Manazir (113 pounds) and Jackson Jagodzinski (285), who both placed fourth in their respective weight classes.

Aside from results on the mat, though, Zieschang is also pleased with how his athletes are representing the program as it continues to grow.

“We’re always getting compliments about how our kids are respectful and have good sportsmanship,” he said. “Which I like to hear because what we’re really doing is preparing them for life and they’re conducting themselves as Liberty Hill athletes.”

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23

PANTHER OF THE MONTH

Learning, growing, maturing Lady Panthers senior center’s skill set complete

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Three years ago, Lady Panthers freshman Evie Bruce was beside herself with grief following a Liberty Hill loss at the Jack Frost tournament in Georgetown – in fact she was downright distraught over some mistakes she had made during the contest she felt contributed to the defeat.

Fast-forward to the present and the now-senior center found herself on the same court during the same event, only with a polar-opposite result, as Bruce scored a game-high 22 points in helping the Purple-and-Gold beat the host Eagles by a score of 63-43 in the championship game.

According to Bruce, her triumph on the same court where she had been so crestfallen was simply part and parcel of the overall maturation process she’s gone through over the past three seasons.

“I think it’s just a confidence thing,” said Bruce. “Learning to control what you can control.”

One aspect of her game the 6-foot-2 Bruce has learned to control is how to play a physical style under the boards without getting into foul trouble and the frustration that comes along with it – something she struggled to come to grips with earlier on in her highschool career.

“Definitely, I’ve gotten better at being physical and learning how to use my body,” said Bruce. “Back during my freshman year, I flopped a lot. But, then I realized a lot of times you’re not going to get that call.”

Lady Panthers head coach Chris Lange echoed those sentiments.

“Evie’s battle-tested now,” he said. “She’s been through the fire a few times and has grown as a player and a young lady.”

Bruce has also embraced her role as a bruiser down low, despite the fact she has demonstrated shooting touch from beyond the arc.

“She has the ability to post up, understand how everything works and calls for the ball,” said Lange. “Before, she was always wanting to go right out to the 3-point line.”

However, all that being said, Bruce remains a hybrid threat with the ability to bang with the big girls in the paint, along with being able to run the floor and take advantage of her quickness – a combination of skills that will serve her well when she takes the court in college next season at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, where she will feature for the NCAA Division I Mocs – only in a different

24

position than she’s become accustomed to in high school, as Bruce will play forward at the next level.

“I’ve played a lot of forward before and have been wanting to again for a long time now,” said Bruce. “So, I’m excited to have the opportunity and I’ll be able to shoot more.”

Regardless of position, though, one thing that will remain the same is ruggedness at the defensive end of the court – something Bruce said has been drilled into her by mother Shasta.

“My mom played basketball and has always told me defense never goes into a slump,” said Bruce. “It’s all about desire.”

Unlike many athletes who feel pressured to specialize in only one sport upon reaching high school, Bruce also played volleyball for the Lady Panthers all four years, providing an alternative to the grind of year-round hoops.

“I haven’t been playing volleyball very long compared to basketball,” said Bruce. “But, I think some things from one helps me with the other. Although basketball is more like my job, while volleyball is a fun hobby.”

Bruce made Liberty Hill’s varsity volleyball squad last season as a junior, but has been a member of the varsity basketball team since she was a freshman and Lange said that has only helped her accelerate the growth process.

“Back then, we had (former Lady Panthers center) Emma Hubbard, who never backed down from anybody,” he said. “Evie learned how to handle her emotions and play inside to the point where her teammates know she’s going to get it done no matter what.”

As far as the emotional roller coaster goes, Bruce credits current teammate Kallahan Erps with helping her cope with the sometimes stormy thoughts that gather in the moments leading up to a contest.

“Before a game, her and I will meditate,” said Bruce. “It really helps get your mind right and I used to get really mad at myself on the court when I would make mistakes.”

Kind of like three years ago in Georgetown when the world was crumbling around a freshman who has now grown into the role she was destined to play as a senior.

“Evie knows now she can handle herself,” said Lange. “When she leaves this school, she’ll be ready to take on the world.”

However, before then, Bruce still has some business to attend to in the here and now, she said.

“There’s always going to be pressure because we’re Liberty Hill,” said Bruce. “We definitely want to go to state.”

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5

Evie Bruce (5) credits pregame meditation with helping her visualize success on the court, along with the ability to properly manage her emotions. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Liberty Hill’s Evie Bruce (5) has grown into an inside-outside player, which will translate next season at the college level. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Player of many positions Wranglers swingman plays all over court

BY BRAD MARTIN

STAFF WRITER

Any craftsman will tell you the key to a successful project is having the right tools for the right job. Even more so, when one or many of those tools can perform multiple functions, a craftsman can do more with less and the added versatility ensures an efficient use of their time spent on the project.

The same can be said about crafting a winning team. When sheer numbers aren’t the answer, diversity comes into play as the coach finds success through versatile players rather than depth alone.

The toolbox may be smaller, but it’s filled to the top with willing, adaptable players that perform well - when and where they’re needed. One such player is Ritvik Kasireddy.

“He’s been really versatile for us - able to play one through five if we need him to,” said Legacy Ranch head coach Rylan Gerber. “He just accepts every challenge and as a coach, if you have a guy that’s versatile and is willing to go compete, that’s really a great thing to have.”

Kasireddy’s versatility shines bright on game days, but it doesn’t stop there.

As a true team player does, he exhibits a similar diversity throughout the program, whether in practice, the locker room or otherwise. Gerber spoke specifically to one of Kasireddy’s most valuable skills - his leadership.

“He’s a leader, but he’s also not afraid to hold his peers accountable.” said Gerber.

“That’s what’s going to make this group special – they’re competitors and they really want to win. They’re tight knit and he’s a big part of that.”

As the conversation took a step outside the gymnasium and off the court, it became clear Kasireddy keeps the bar high – not hesitating to answer the question of where his biggest inspiration comes from.

“I’d probably say God,” said Kasireddy.

“He keeps me in check for a lot of things – and he’s always reminding me that he’s always there for me, no matter what it is.”

Continuing the off-court conversation, Kasireddy envisions a career in engineering, something he continues to keep in sight. In his free time, he briefly spoke of his enjoyment of playing video games with his friends, but the conversation quickly returned to the subject at large – basketball.

“Really, basketball is the main thing

WRANGLER OF THE MONTH in life for me right now,” he said, as he cited the source of his drive to be at his very best. “It’s knowing we’re the underdog. We’re freshmen playing into JV and varsity, so I really want to make a name for ourselves and make sure people know who we are.”

Kasireddy doesn’t seem to hold any guarded secrets when it comes to his own recipe for success.

Instead, he borrows from the triedand-true concoction of grit, hard work and a commitment to his teammates and coaches alike as he shows up for them just as they do for him in return.

As old-fashioned as it may be, it’s a recipe that works. Perhaps another ritual borrowed from the days of old would be

the superstitions – the lucky charms, if you will. A common theme in even modern-day locker rooms, Kasireddy shared his.

“I always wear the same exact socks for every game,” he said with a smile. “Everyone says my feet stink, but I’m lucky with them, so I wear them. Every time I wear them, we get a W.” Luck is one thing, but the grit and determination to be their very best is what continues to propel this inaugural team towards success, even in uncharted waters.

Kasireddy may be a standout, but he understands the importance of the team.

He, along with the rest of the team, have given Gerber quite the toolset to work with and together, they continue to whittle away on what will one day be a masterpiece.

At left, Wranglers head coach Rylan Gerber looks on during Legacy Ranch’s home game against Cedar Park earlier this season. At right, Legacy Ranch’s Ritvik Kasireddy (35) has proven to be versatile in playing all five positions on the court for the Wranglers this season. PHOTOS BY ALEX RUBIO

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

25

SPORTS

New coach, same plan Lady Panthers stung by playoff defeat last season

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

When the Lady Panthers walked off the pitch at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown last spring following a 1-0 double-overtime, third-round playoff defeat at the hands of district rival Leander, the loss left a bitter taste in the mouths of those adorned in Purple-and-Gold.

Jadyn Jones was one of those who experienced the sorrow of having been eliminated from the postseason.

“As soon as we lost to Leander, we were anticipating this season,” said Jones, a senior midfielder. “So, it’s really exciting to begin this season.”

One distinct difference for Liberty Hill this year is head coach Rebecca Huffman, who spent last season as a varsity assistant under former head coach Landon Maddux, who guided the team for two seasons before stepping down after last year.

Despite having previously served as a head cross country coach earlier in her career, this represents Huffman’s first opportunity as a soccer sideline boss after also having been an assistant at Sulphur Springs.

However, make no mistake, Huffman is a soccer coach first and foremost after having played the game at Forney High

School before moving on to receive a degree from Texas Tech University and is definitely ready to take the wheel of the Lady Panthers program – although moving from assistant to head coach on the same team can sometimes create a unique dynamic and challenges.

“Things can change a little bit,” said Huffman, of moving up a notch in the chainof-command. “Before, I was able to be the good cop and the calm in the midst of chaos.

But, our players still saw me as a coach and they know they can still communicate their concerns with me.”

According to Jones, the transition has been a smooth one.

“It’s definitely different, but not a bad different,” said Jones, one of five captains along with fellow seniors Elayna Hubbard, Addison Lee, Gracie Garner and Sophia Gonzalez-Venegas, all of whom were voted by their teammates. “She knows what we need as players and has been able to adapt well.”

Beginning at the back, four-year starter and Texas State University recruit Brooklyn Escobar will set up shop between the sticks as the Lady Panthers’ No. 1 goalkeeper, providing Huffman and her side with a valuable security blanket in keeping opposing teams off the scoreboard.

“It’s a blessing to have Brooklyn,” said Huff-

Liberty Hill’s Jadyn Jones (12) scored eight goals to go with seven assists last season for the Lady Panthers, providing a blend of attacking and defensive presence in midfield. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

man, of Escobar, who posted 11 clean sheets in 22 games last season, while compiling a 9-7-4 record. “As far as I’m concerned, she’s one of the best goalkeepers I’ve ever seen.”

Anchoring the defense will be Gonzalez-Venegas, Lee, senior Haley Hay and junior Olivia Bernard, while the midfield will consist primarily of Jones, juniors Maelynn Rongey and Casey Parker and sophomore Zaidie Aristizabal.

Garner – who led Liberty Hill with 15 goals least season and junior Maggie Giessinger, who was second on the squad with 11, will be the wide players on the wings, while Hubbard

said. “We need to be more connected as a unit.”

Jones scored eight goals to go with seven assists last season in providing a balance of defensive ruggedness with the ability to join the attack and has a penchant for letting fly from distance she says stems from her days playing a previous position.

“I used to be a goalkeeper, so I took a lot of goal kicks,” said Jones, who will play at NCAA Division III Hardin-Simmons University next year. “So, I’m pretty accurate.”

Last season, Liberty Hill finished with an overall record of 11-8-5 to go with an 8-3-3

“As soon as we lost to Leander, we were anticipating this season.”

Liberty Hill senior Jadyn Jones on the Lady Panthers’ playoff disappointment last year

Lady Panthers senior Gracie Garner (20) – who led Liberty Hill with 15 goals last season – will once again lead the offense this year. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

26 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5

and sophomore Faith Romney will form the strike partnership up front.

One problem that was glaring last season was an inability to finish scoring chances, which has been a point of emphasis for Huffman as she stamps her authority on the this year’s squad, she said.

“Last year, we were good at making runs forward and back, but not necessarily across the field,” said Huffman. “So, this season, a big focus we’ve had is to have our attacking players make more three-dimensional runs, which makes them more dynamic off the ball and allows them to get into space.”

Huffman said she’s looking to further build on the foundation that was put in place last season.

“Last year, we had good fundamentals, but we couldn’t really put it all together,” she

district mark, which resulted in a fourthplace finish in the standings behind Leander, Rouse and Cedar Park, who will all once again provide tough opposition this year.

Jones believes she and her teammates have what it takes to not only build on last year’s district result, but prolong their playoff run this time around.

“Last season was heartbreaking,” she said.

“But, this summer, everyone was up here at 7 a.m. and really committed.”

Huffman said she quizzed the players who have the most to gain or lose entering this season to gauge their objectives.

“When I got the job, I sat down with our seniors and asked them what their goals were,” she said. “They said they wanted to win district and I think we have the squad to do it and honestly, make it to state.”

Memories remain of pipeline blast in Sundance Ranch that killed one

COLUMN

BY JAMES WEAR

the tone county dispatchers used to get our attention and followed up with information regarding the emergency. The dispatcher reported having received “multiple” calls More than two decades have passed since regarding an explosion, possibly in the CR those days in my life when myself and a 214 area. small group of volunteers often dropped Driving to the station, I thought perhaps whatever we were doing at the time to a meth lab had blown up, even though at the respond to either a fire, traffic collision or time I didn’t fully understand what a meth some medical emergency. lab was.

And while one could spend the better part I recalled that some weeks earlier another of a day recalling various incidents, perhaps fireman and myself had been on standby it was the pipeline blast that occurred in for hours as investigators from the sheriff’s August 1999 that left a lasting impression on department had gone through a residence many of us. out past CR 214, searching for drugs.

I was working out in Durham Park, Arriving at the station, I jumped aboard paintbrush in hand, when I heard a loud the department’s pumper truck with anothexplosion. I stopped and began surveying er volunteer and we headed out CR 214 and I the horizon. Seconds after hearing the guess it was about that time we saw the huge explosion, my hand-held radio blared with column of flames and smoke.

We would soon learn a pipeline crossing Sundance Ranch had exploded and numerous grass fires were erupting. Being in the engine, which was not suitable for chasing burning grass across fields, we were instructed to remain on CR 214 and stop incoming traffic. We could see the fire from where we staged. The flames were estimated to be 150 feet in the air.

Other volunteers headed out to CR 200 and found themselves fighting the grass fires, with volunteers from other departments soon arriving and joining the battle. It lasted all day and mop up efforts continued until midnight. More than 100 acres burned, but no homes were destroyed.

It was not until later that day that details about what triggered the explosion began to come out. A 41-yearFuel from the ruptured pipeline continued to burn for hours after the initial old employee of a explosion. COURTESY PHOTO subcontractor working COLUMNIST

The blackened remains of a drilling rig that struck a 14-inch gas pipeline on Aug. 10, 1999. The pipeline ran through Sundance Ranch, with many residents leaving their homes that day and seeking refuge at Liberty Hill High School. The remains of the operator were found about 150 feet away. COURTESY PHOTO

for Pedernales Electric Cooperative, while those persons and their families were given drilling holes for utility poles in Sundance shelter, food and water. Throughout Liberty Ranch, had struck a 14-inch gas line. His Hill, businesses were boxing up water and skeletal remains would be retrieved and food to feed hungry firefighters. transported to the Travis County Medical In the weeks that followed, the Texas Examiner’s office for positive identification.

Railroad Commission issued a report on the He was identified as Rudy Lopez of Carrizo blast and noted it was caused by the failure Springs. Five other crew members escaped of the contractor to call the Texas One Call without injury.

Notification System before beginning work.

Valves were shut off at both the north and PEC claimed it had marked the spots where south ends of the pipeline to stop the flow of the crew was to dig the holes and said the fuel, with safety experts saying that allowing contractor probably assumed PEC had made the remaining fuel to simply burn off was the call to Texas One Call. the safest way to avoid any additional exploSeveral weeks later representatives from sions. The fuel was identified as a mixture of Seminole made a generous donation to the propane and ethane gas. fire department in recognition for its efforts Many persons were evacuated from their that day. homes in Sundance that day and the school $25 for Minimum 30 Words (Print Edition), Additional Words $0.20 district, at Contact us for Online Rates the time NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.COM under the direction FOR SALE of Superintendent Smith & Wesson Model 617 22LR. New, Dr. Dean Never Fired, Custom Front Sight, Andrews, Paddle Holster, 1000 Rounds Ammo. opened the high school $800 cash. Text KC at (469) 927-2547. gym where

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

27

EVENTS CALENDAR Forrest Coffee House 103 Forrest St., Liberty Hill 8:30-11 a.m. facebook.com/even ts/1192143531844194/119214354184 4193

January 4

YOGA AT THE HUB Santa Rita Ranch 491 Santa Rita Blvd., Liberty Hill 10 a.m. eventbrite.com/e/yoga-at-the-hubon-the-green-tickets-1115616873099

January 5

IMAGINE WEDDING EXPERIENCE HighPointe Estate 5555 CR 258, Liberty Hill 3-6 p.m. highpointeestate.com

January 8

HONKY TONK WEDNESDAYS WITH THE ROYAL HOUNDS Globe Theatre 132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 7 p.m. globetheatretx.com

January 9

GREEN THUMBS UP GARDENING SERIES: WHAT SHOULD I PLANT IN MY TEXAS YARD? Williamson County Master Gardener 200 E. Liberty Ave., Round Rock (Round Rock Library) 6:30-7:30 p.m. txmg.org/williamson TAPROOM TRIVIA Whitestone Brewery 15390 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 6:30-8:30 p.m. whitestonebrewery.com

TERRIFIC TRIVIA Forrest Coffee House 103 Forrest St., Liberty Hill 7-9 p.m. forrest.coffee

January 10

KARAOKE NIGHT Hometown Watering Hole 3317 E. Hwy. 29, Bertram 8:30 p.m. hometownwateringhole.net KELLY WILLIS Globe Theatre 132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 8 p.m., $20-200 globetheatretx.com

January 11

NEW YEAR’S COOKIE DECORATING CLASS Whitestone Brewery 15390 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 12:15-2:15 p.m., $45 bakedbyjoyleigh.com

January 13

FILLING IN LANDSCAPES WITH FABULOUS HERBS Williamson County Master Gardener 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown (Georgetown Annex) 6:45-8 p.m. txmg.org/williamson

January 14

SECOND TUESDAYS ENTREPRENEUR NETWORKING

The Royal Hounds

GREEN THUMBS UP GARDENING SERIES: WHAT SHOULD I PLANT IN MY TEXAS YARD? Williamson County Master Gardener 550 Discovery Blvd., Cedar Park (Cedar Park Library) 7- 8 p.m. txmg.org/williamson

January 16

TAPROOM TRIVIA Whitestone Brewery 15390 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 6:30-8:30 p.m. whitestonebrewery.com

January 18

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE Cross Tracks Church 101 Church St., Liberty Hill 10 a.m.-4 p.m. redcrossblood.org POLAR PITCH 4V4 TOURNAMENT Liberty Hill City Park 251 CR 200, Liberty Hill 8 a.m., $300 libertyhillsoccer.org/polarpitch

January 19

COUSINS MAINE LOBSTER Thirsty Mule Winery/Schitz Creek Brewery & Distillery 101 CR 257, Liberty Hill 12-6 p.m. cousinsmainelobster.com

January 23

TERRIFIC TRIVIA Forrest Coffee House 103 Forrest St., Liberty Hill 7-9 p.m. forrest.coffee

January 25

FRIDAYZ WITH KEN AND RENEE Liberty Hill Beer Market 13851 W. Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 6-8 p.m. facebook.com /events/5428408 51960758

January 31

SONS OF THE PIONEERS Globe Theatre 132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 8 p.m., $25-200 globetheatretx.com

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5

Kelly Willis

Fridayz with Ken and Renee

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ExperienceLHTX.com J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

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