June 2025 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

BIZ BRIEFS:

What’s New?

Latest

business news and what’s coming soon to Liberty Hill

FOOD & BEVERAGE

The Yogurt Experience

14125 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

The Darling family recently opened their second location of The Yogurt Experience in the Water Tower Plaza in Liberty Hill. The frozen yogurt shop is celebrating its grand opening the weekend of June 7.

Guatemala Love ATX

370 CR 277, Liberty Hill

A new food truck called Guatemala Love ATX recently opened behind Liberty Hill High School. The food truck serves homemade pupusas, tortas, flautas, enchiladas and more.

OTHER NOTABLE

PROJECTS

• Taqueria El Gym (inside Parker's Corner Market)

1017 Main St., Liberty Hill

• Wish Kitchen + Bar

1004 Main St., Liberty Hill

RETAIL

Liberty Hill Plant Market

6945 CR 200, Liberty Hill

The Liberty Hill Plant Market, just off County Road 200, offers customers a variety of plants, including native trees, shrubs, herbs and vegetables.

The Powder Room Boutique 14001 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

(inside The Powder Room Blow Dry Bar)

After a recent remodeling project, the Powder Room

Blow Dry Bar has opened a new boutique inside its salon. The boutique offers clothing and accessories in a wide range of sizes.

OTHER

NOTABLE

PROJECTS

• Suck Less Apparel Co. Online, Liberty Hill

SERVICES

Glitz Premier Lighting

Mobile, Liberty Hill

Glitz Premier Lighting was founded earlier this year and is owned by firefighter Ryan Woelfel. The company offers both permanent and seasonal holiday lighting solutions for residential and commercial properties. Their permanent lighting is provided by JellyFish Lighting, which allows customers to easily customize their lighting.

D1 Training

110 Holmes Road, Liberty Hill

A new location of D1 Training is set to open in Liberty Hill later this year. D1 offers athletic training to everyone from children to adults, in both personal training and group settings.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• Aurora Medical Spa 8481 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

• Sculpt-N-Glow Wellness 116 Old Glory Trail, Liberty Hill

• Big Bounce Party Rentals Mobile, Liberty Hill

• GreenPal Online, Liberty Hill

• Insco Distributing Inc.

110 Holmes Road, Liberty Hill

• HT Fitness

9975 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

• Edward Jones

9025 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

• Hixon Storage 10107 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

• The Beyond Clean 118 Holmes Road, Liberty Hill

• Sunrise & Suitcases Online, Liberty Hill

• 12 Oaks Professional Park

2021 Kauffman Loop, Liberty Hill

• Texas Truck & Trailer

15600 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

• Silencer Shop 1735 N. Hwy. 183, Leander

• Perfect Reflections Parlor (inside Royal Bliss Day Spa) 12701 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

• Legacy Lash Lounge Liberty Hill

ON THE MOVE

Pure Remedy Massage Therapy

100 Church St., Liberty Hill Pure Remedy is celebrating seven years in the Liberty Hill community. Pure Remedy’s mission goes beyond massage— they’re also passionate about educating on the power of positive, intentional touch and creating space for both physical and emotional healing. They believe in honoring each body’s story and supporting clients in aligning with their own natural rhythm of restoration.

Dr. Maddy Zeek, Liberty Hill

Animal Hospital

100 Church St., Liberty Hill

Dr. Maddy Zeek is the newest veterinarian to join the team at Liberty Hill Animal Hospital. Zeek specializes in geriatric medicine, palliative care and hospice.

Fenced-N-Fencing 15600 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

Fenced-N-Fencing recently moved to a new location on State Highway 29. The company offers a wide variety of residential and commercial fencing and gates.

Caitlyn Lillo-Combs, Liberty Hill Police Department

1120 Main St., Liberty Hill

Caitlyn Lillo-Combs is the new administrative assistant at

the Liberty Hill Police Department. She replaces Julie Sullivan, who retired in May.

Taqueria Mi Ranchito Jaimes

14751 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill (behind Thirsty Penguin)

Food truck Taqueria Mi Ranchito Jaimes celebrated two years in business in May.

Glenny Bee Boutique

Liberty Hill

Glenny Bee Boutique, which closed its brick-and-mortar location in early 2025, has decided not to reopen a new physical location. The online portion of the business is also closed.

RockPointe Church/Vintage Church

170 CR 214, Liberty Hill

At the end of May, RockPointe Church closed its Liberty Hill campus and consolidated its services solely to its Leander location. Beginning in June, Vintage Church, which previously held services at Santa Rita Middle School, started holding services in RockPointe's previous Liberty Hill location on County Road 214.

Olive & Sage Boutique

201 St. Joseph Ct., Liberty Hill

In early May, Olive & Sage Boutique announced it would be closing its doors permanently. The boutique has been open in Liberty Hill since late 2022.

Bailey Cox, Radiant Salon & Spa

2921 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

Bailey Cox is the newest hairstylist at Radiant Salon & Spa. Cox specializes in cutting.

The Treat Box Online, Liberty Hill The Treat Box recently

announced that starting in September, it will be offering wholesale bakery items to local coffee shops, retail stores, event venues and more.

Fletchers Florals

13651 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

In May, Fletchers Florals owner Shauna Wardlaw announced her floral business is for sale. She added the opportunity is turnkey and set up for a seamless transition.

Vista Family Eye Care

14125 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

Vista Family Eye Care celebrated two years in business in Liberty Hill in late May with a luau party for patients and the greater community.

Watermark Arms

719 Hwy. 183, Liberty Hill

In June, Watermark Arms will be celebrating its two-year business anniversary with an event on June 21 for the community.

Schneider Mechanical

114 Holmes Road, Liberty Hill

Schneider Mechanical is moving to a new location in Liberty Hill on Holmes Road. Schneider Mechanical offers a full range of HVAC services.

Fire Oak Distillery

4600 CR 207, Liberty Hill

Fire Oak Distillery is celebrating its 10-year business anniversary in June. An event will be held June 14 from noon to 6 p.m. to commemorate the occasion.

Bailey Cox

City addresses Butler Farms water issues with residents

Ongoing pressure issues raise frustrations, concerns

BY RACHEL N. MADISON STAFF WRITER

This spring, the Liberty Hill City Council held a meeting to address the city’s plans to remedy lingering low water pressure challenges within the Butler Farms neighborhood.

The event was sponsored by city staff and the water and wastewater departments. City Manager Paul Brandenburg responded to resident questions and concerns about the cause of the issue and outlined the city’s next steps to resolve it.

For over a year, residents of the Butler Farm subdivision, located in west Liberty Hill just off State Highway 29, have experienced consistently low water pressure resulting from a malfunction of the pump that transports water from the pump station on Stubblefield Lane to Butler Farms homes. This has left residents unable to shower, use the tap, or properly water their lawns.

“I don’t have enough water pressure coming out of my garden hose to wash my car,” said resident Rick Sanchez, who has been experiencing off-and-on pressure issues since he moved to the subdivision over a year and a half ago.

Often, his sink pressure is too low for dishes and doesn’t have enough water pressure to shower, even during off hours.

“The issue is very much affecting daily life,” he said.

Sanchez, who was present at the meeting, said he has reached out to the city asking them to act on the issue, but responses have been slow.

“For months, I’ve had endless communication with members of the city council and mayor about this and get very little response,” he told The Independent. “I’ve called so many times and and never once has the water department come to my house to check my water pressure.”

Sanchez said the city’s response has caused frustration and made him question his decision to move to Liberty Hill.

“We could have bought a house in Georgetown, which has a lower tax rate than Liberty Hill and they have no water pressure issues,” he said. “We could have saved a lot of money by moving out there, but we decided to come here because we liked it better. We’re at the point now where we’re not liking it. It’s not that we don’t like the city, we just don’t like the way we’re getting treated.”

Sanchez said if the city doesn’t act soon, he

Residents of the Butler Farms subdivision are concerned about low water pressure issues affecting their neighborhood. The Liberty Hill City Council recently held a meeting to address the issues. COURTESY PHOTO

plans to get area media involved and hire an attorney.

At the meeting, Brandenburg acknowledged resident frustrations and stated the purpose of the event was “to discuss the issues and what’s being done.” He apologized for the problems residents of the subdivision have experienced and verified that the city is working to take strict action to resolve it.

“The expectation is that when you move to Liberty Hill, you’ll have water and you should be able to get that,” he said. “I won’t make excuses – we’re done with that and we need to move forward with what needs to be done correcting this.”

While ideal residential water pump pressure should average around 60-psi (pounds per square inch), the pressure for most Butler Farms homes has been falling into the 40-psi range. Upon city investigation following complaints earlier this year, Brandenburg told attendees city staff found that several of the pump valves had been shut off.

Brandenburg stated the city was unaware valves had been shut off and is still looking into the cause. He assured attendees that

city discussions on how to better monitor the valves to ensure that shutoffs don’t happen again are in progress.

Following the discovery, Brandenburg said the city re-opened the valves and pressure returned to 60-psi. However, the following week that pump failed.

A temporary diesel replacement pump was installed, although this weaker pump maintains a lower pressure capacity, between 40- and 50-psi, resulting in Butler Farms water customers’ continued pressure drops, especially in homes higher in elevation. Still, the city maintains that all current and replacement pumps have stayed above the 35-psi state mandated standard pressure minimum.

“Although the state requires a minimum of 35-psi, the City of Liberty Hill strives to exceed that standard and is actively implementing short-term and long-term solutions to ensure optimal water flow to Butler Farms,” stated a Butler Farms Water Pressure Optimization Action Plan pamphlet that the city released prior to the spring meeting.

“Right now, we are in the process of getting the first pump repaired and reinstalled, which is about three months out,” Brandenburg said. This repair should help the pressure return to the 60-psi standard. The pamphlet noted residents “may continue to experience lower-than-desired water pressure for up to three months until the faulty water pump has been repaired and reinstalled,” however Brandenburg assured that the city is expediting the process as much as possible.

The next long-term solutions will include replacing the pump, which is currently already undersized for the demand, with a larger upgraded pump and installing an elevated water storage tank for Butler Farms.

This tank, “which is used to store potable water, will allow the natural force of gravity to produce consistent water pressure throughout the Butler Farms subdivision,” stated the pamphlet.

“We have design engineering taking place to get that tower within 16 to 18 months, which includes bid and construction,” Brandenburg said. “This will be significant because, as opposed to having to pump water all the way across town to get to Butler, we’ll have water in the tank. It’ll flow with gravity.”

Brandenburg said “city council is fully aware of what need to be funded and fully supports it” and assured residents the city is committed to getting these steps done properly and as quickly as possible.

In an April City Council meeting, council approved a task order with Pape-Dawson for the preliminary design of the storage tank, at an amount not to exceed $70,750.

Many residents expressed concern about how the low pressure would affect fire hydrants within the subdivision, especially entering dry summer months when fire risks are high.

The city’s informational pamphlet stated “reduced pressure can affect water flow from hydrants – however, the Liberty Hill Fire Department is aware of the temporary pressure loss and has modified operations to transport additional water to any emergency response in Butler Farms.”

An April updated pamphlet stated “the Liberty Hill Fire Department has updated their fire response plan in Butler Farms to bring the water tender in case of low pressure.”

Liberty Hill Fire Chief Anthony Lincoln was present at the meeting and Brandenburg further assured residents the city has been in communications with the Liberty Hill Fire Department to ensure all hydrants in the subdivision are in working order.

“[The department] has been out there and the only issue they saw was the valves had been turned off. Other than that, there is water to fight residential structural fires in Butler Farms,” he said. “The issue isn’t that you don’t have water out there – it’s a pressure issue due to mechanical failures and the items we’re working on.”

During the meeting, Brandenburg further directed Lincoln be included in all internal city conversations and communications about pressure status going forward. He also said the city will work to be proactive throughout the process to ensure everyone is on the same

Gateway to the future

Liberty Hill Class of 2025 celebrated at commencement

STORY BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

PHOTOS BY ALEX RUBIO PHOTOGRAPHER

On a Friday night at a packed Panther Stadium in May, the largest senior class in school history strode to the podium one by one to receive their diplomas at Liberty Hill High School’s Class of 2025 commencement.

In all, 471 newly-minted graduates had their tickets to adulthood punched in Purple-andGold as the next chapter of their respective lives begins.

Salutatorian Scarlett Pittman pointed out during her speech she is one of a select group of students that have been part of the Liberty Hill Independent School District pipeline from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade and highlighted the fact one of her favorite childhood memories was a repeating occurrence that took place on the same field where she was standing.

“I’ve lived in Liberty Hill all my life and every football game, I did the Panther run,” she said, of the pregame tradition during which local grade school students sprint the length of the field. “I always did my best to pace myself and blend in with everyone else. But, one time – maybe the crowd got to me or something – I face-planted at the 30-yard line, but I got right back up and finished.”

Pittman used the unfortunate incident, though, as a microcosm of the journey she and her classmates were arriving at the finish line of.

“When I think back now, it was reflective of the high school journey we’ve been on,” she said. “There have been bumps in the road along the way, but we always got back up –something that has better prepared us for the challenges we’ll face next.”

As for any advice she might provide for those who are currently on that educational path or have yet to begin it, another gridiron reference was applicable.

“No matter what happens, always remember to get back up and make it to the end zone,” she said.

Valedictorian Momitha Katta wanted to convey a proper message – and in the right manner.

“I wanted to be inspirational without sounding cheesy,” she said. “Then I got some great advice from some close friends who reminded me I didn’t need to be perfect, just real.”

After that, some thank yous were in order.

“I can’t tell you how honored I am to be standing here today,” said Katta. “Thanks to the entire community of Liberty Hill, who welcomed me with open arms – I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to grow up with.”

In closing, Katta advised those before her to always take time to stop and lighten up a bit at times in order to better enjoy one’s experiences.

“If there’s one thing these past four years have taught me, it’s the importance of giving ourselves some grace,” she said. “To stop dwelling on what went wrong and focus on what went right because when we look back we won’t remember that one bad grade or arguments with friends or teachers, but the moments that made us smile.”

Once all the names had been read, former Liberty Hill High School students Jozie Wilson and Jaycee Crossland were posthumously honored.

After all the graduates had made their was across the stage and returned to their seats, closing remarks were provided by National Honors Society president Gabby Mundy, who took time to recognize once more what she and her classmates had truly accomplished.

“Over the past four years, we’ve faced challenges and changes that have tested us in ways

we never imagined,” she said. “We’ve learned important lessons – not just from textbooks – but each other and from the experiences that shaped us. Through it all, we’ve grown stronger, more resilient and more prepared for what lies ahead.”

A er thanking family, friends and faculty for support along the way, Mundy then added communal gratitude to her comments.

“As we prepare to leave Liberty Hill, let’s remember everything this community has given us – the friendships, the lessons and the memories,” she said. “Let’s carry these with us as we step into the future ready to face new challenges and make a difference in the world.”

MICHELLE WEST, DDS ANGELA DAVIDSON, DDS

Arriving at the summit

Valedictorian will study at University of Texas

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

When Momitha Katta was called to the front office one day during classes at Liberty Hill High School, she immediately feared the worst.

“I thought I was in trouble for something,” said Katta. “But, I had no idea what it could’ve been.”

All of a sudden, she remembered a transgression she had made.

“I had parked in the visitors’ spaces,” she said. “Maybe that was it?”

Once Katta arrived on the carpet, her fears were exacerbated by the sight of what – or who – she saw waiting for her.

“My parents were there,” said Katta. “I didn’t know what to think.”

Then, all her apprehension was quickly washed away when the reason for her summons was finally revealed as the assembled group broke the news she was the Class of 2025’s valedictorian.

least of which was the fact she realized under Texas law, she would be attending her freshman year of college tuition-free.

“I was happy for my dad,” said Katta, who will double-major in computer and data science at the University of Texas. “So, I can give him a year off from paying for me.”

Despite her lofty status at the top of the academic mountain, Katta said it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s more intelligent than everyone else.

“I still wouldn’t say I’m the smartest,” she said. “It’s based more on hard work.”

Although once she made it past last year, Katta said the workload eased up a bit.

“Everything gets really hard your junior year because you have so much going on,” she said. “It’s been difficult, but I’ve just stayed committed and worked hard.”

Katta said heading right down the road to Austin to matriculate was an easy choice.

However, Katta’s college journey will probably last longer than her high-school experience – although she may take a break at some point to once again ease the pressure on her parents, she said.

“I’ll probably study for a PhD,” said Katta. “But, after I get my bachelor’s degree, I’ll go out and work for a few years, so I can pay my own way.”

Aside from her studies, Katta has maintained a full schedule of extracurricular activities along the way, including being president of the UIL speech and debate team – an endeavor the soft-spoken senior chose to challenge herself with despite her

mild-mannered nature, she said.

“I wanted to improve those skills because I knew it would be useful in college or when I get a job,” said Katta. “Actually, I found out I was good at it and even decided to try some new things like congressional debate and poem interpretation.”

Another critical factor in her academic success has been the ability to break away from the books in order to not be buried under the burden of educational expectations.

“I dance and sing outside of school,” she said. “It’s very important to get away when you’re under stress to do something where you’re not thinking about school.”

According to Katta, a feeling of relief gave way to an avalanche of emotions – not the

“I’ve been wanting to go there because it’s in-state,” she said. “Also, UT has one of the best programs for my major, so it seemed like the right choice.”

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

$25 for Minimum 30 Words (Print Edition), Additional Words $0.20 Contact us for Online Rates NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.COM

Trusted Caring Hands LLC

Compassionate and reliable home care services. Personalized care for your loved ones. Ask about qualifying for VA services and long-term care. Call Nicole today! 737-218-6269 | www.trustedcaringhands.com

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE FAMILY COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT |STATE OF HAWAII NOTICE OF HEARING TO: HEATHER ELIZABETH OLSON (FKA ELIZABETH HOLBROOK)

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that Albette Analani Wilkins has filed a Petition for Appointment of a Guardian of a Minor, L.K.D. born 2014, in 1FGD-250000022 on February 6, 2025. The Petition will be heard in the Family Court, Ronald T.Y. Moon Judicial Complex, 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707 on TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2025, AT 1:30 P.M. IF YOU FAIL to appear at the hearing or you fail to file a written response before the date of the hearing, further action, including the granting of the Petition, may be taken in this matter without further notice to you. Your written response should be addressed to: Presiding Judge, Family Court, First Circuit, ATTN: SPECIAL DIVISION CLERK, 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707. You may also contact the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, counsel for Albette Wilkins, at (808) 521-2302 for further information.

Liberty Hill Class of 2025 valedictorian Momitha Katta will attend the University of Texas, where she will study computer and data science. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Class of 2025 valedictorian Momitha Katta delivers her speech during Liberty Hill High School’s commencement. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Liberty Hill for life

Salutatorian born and raised in Purple-and-Gold

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

Scarlett Pittman only knows one color scheme after spending her entire life matriculating up through the ranks of the Liberty Hill Independent School District: Purple-and-Gold.

In fact, of the nearly 500 members of Liberty Hill High School’s Class of 2025, Pittman is one of a select group of Panthers that spent each and every year of their respective educational lives locally, attending area schools from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Pittman finished off her Liberty Hill school career in style, being named class salutatorian and put a cherry on top of her time by delivering a commencement speech on the same field where she not only sprinted to victory as a youngster during Panther runs before football games, but later played four years of soccer for the Lady Panthers.

Pretty much a full-circle moment for Pittman, who will attend Rice University and study psychology and English, with perhaps another professional pursuit, she said.

“I’m thinking about going to law school and I’m interested in possibly a PhD,” said Pittman. “I chose Rice because when I toured the campus, I could really see myself there.”

According to Pittman, her academic success so far is attributed to having the resolve to push through mental barriers in accomplishing tasks.

“I always make sure I don’t let a day go by without getting something done,” said

Butler Farms

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

page.

On April 8, the Public Works Department implemented a Random Spot-Checking Plan for Butler Farms hydrants to ensure all are in working order. Hydrants that have been inspected will be marked with brass tags. Following the meeting, Sanchez expressed lingering concerns about hydrant water and fears that sufficient testing wasn’t conducted, despite the city manager’s claims.

Pittman. “So, that way I’m always prepared for the next day.”

However, Pittman said she doesn’t sacrifice much-needed rest simply to check boxes.

“Everything I do goes with managing my sleep schedule – I try not to stay up studying past midnight,” she said. “On Saturday, though, I make sure I take time to refuel and spend time with family and friends –then I tackle something again on Sunday.”

Perhaps the accomplishment Pittman is most proud of during her high school days is having spearheaded a mental health awareness initiative with some of her classmates as a sophomore – an endeavor she said was necessary to fill a void at the time.

“We lost a couple students that passed away,” she said. “Admin came in and talked to us about it, but then we were expected to just carry on. I felt we needed more because I saw the reactions a lot of people had who didn’t know how to deal with it, so I wanted to reshape the environment.”

This sparked her interest in studying psychology at the college level. As for her English ambitions, those are a natural extension of one of Pittman’s primary passions.

“I love literature,” she said. “Mostly the classics – Shakespeare and things like that.”

Pittman said finishing at or near the top of her class wasn’t necessarily an objective at the outset of her high school journey, but rather an organic occurrence when she suddenly found herself quite high on the list early on in the progression.

“At the beginning, I didn’t really think about it,” she said. “But, after my freshman year, I was No. 3, so I knew it was possible –

“I’ll put it on record that if my house burns down and there’s no water in the fire hydrants out there, the city will be liable,” he said.

Going forward, Sanchez hopes for city accountability and action, especially as he continues to see new homes still being constructed.

Brandenburg said the current construction is from previously issued permits and that no new building permits will be issued in the subdivision until the new lift station is installed.

“Everybody in this neighborhood is frustrated,” said Sanchez. “I don’t care we still don’t have an amenity center or a pool

her speech during Liberty Hill High School’s commencement.

At right, in addition to her academic achievements, Pittman played four years of soccer for the lady Panthers.

PHOTO BY SHANNON HOFMANN

I just didn’t think I could be that high.” Despite all the hoopla surrounding rankings, though, Pittman believes there is much more when evaluating one’s true value – advice she readily passes on to those

or anything like that. I’d rather have water pressure.”

Brandenburg concluded the meeting by stating the current short and long-term plans underway should alleviate most of the issues residents have been experiencing.

“I apologize for the service issues you’ve had. We’re better than that,” he said. “[Our team] has done a great job of being responsive once they find out about a problem. Let’s be proactive and not have a problem.”

He encouraged residents to get involved and contact City Hall at (512) 778-5449 with any pressure issues they experience so the city can work to resolve it as soon as possible.

who might follow in her footsteps.

“I would tell them to not let themselves be defined by a number,” she said. “Grades alone won’t bring you happiness – you need to find joy in other things.”

The city also encourages Butler Farms residents to, “conserve water as much as possible during the three-month repair,” the action plan pamphlet stated.

Water customers can also sign up for WaterSmart to monitor water usage and receive customized conservation tips at libertyhilltx.watersmart.com.

“In the meantime, our staff is on this every day testing out there to make sure you have adequate water supply and ability to have basic water necessities,” Brandenburg concluded.

He added the city will work to keep the public informed on the status and timeline of the projects.

Above, Class of 2025 salutatorian Scarlett Pittman delivers

PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Serving something bigger

LHISD recognizes two of its best, giving credit where it’s due

BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER

Teachers are inherently selfless and thankfully so. Without hesitation, they serve the needs of others and without the expectation of anything in return. Though unintentional by most, the teaching profession is taken for granted.

They’re everywhere – a part of the daily lives of so many – so much so, they tend to blend in with the surrounding landscape. Yet, their perspective doesn’t allow much in the way of blending in.

Unlike those with their head down as they grind through life, teachers have a gift. One that allows them to home in on the individual, finding their light within and guiding them to the point where that light shines as brightly as can be for all the world to see.

The Liberty Hill Independent School District recently recognized two of its own for their service to the student population and the community in general, giving them the well-deserved spotlight and letting them shine bright in their own right.

Both teachers were awarded the Kristy Kercheville Excellence in Teaching Award and each received a $1,000 award from the Liberty Hill Education Foundation.

It’s likely a safe assumption each and every teacher, faculty and staff member are deserving of such recognition and in a way, they’ve done so by reminding this small town with a big heart that, without them, the future would look frightfully bleak.

A debt of gratitude is owed to them and this is their time to shine.

Shauna Langham, Elementary Teacher of the Year

Shauna Langham has been teaching at Bar W Elementary School since it opened in 2023, and needless to say, she’s made quite an impact on not only the students, but the teachers and faculty as well.

In a career that started after graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in child development, she soon pivoted toward what spoke more to her heart – the children.

“I thought I wanted to be more on the management side,” she said. “And when I got to that part of it, I didn’t enjoy it as much as working with the kids.”

Langham is no stranger to awards and recognition, this being her third teacher of the year title throughout her 20-plus year career. However, each one has come with an ele-

ment of surprise, she explained.

“It was such a shock for me because I’m an introvert by nature,” she said. “I’m not someone that is out there, friendly with everybody and making friends with all the teachers. What I will do is drop everything that I’m doing to help others, even if it’s to my own detriment. My team knows that I will stop and help them with whatever they need and give them my full attention.”

In true teacher fashion, Langham’s dedication to something much bigger than herself takes center stage – and it goes beyond the children, doubling down on her value to the whole team as she teaches in more than one direction.

“What I really enjoy too is mentoring,” she said. “I’ve been mentoring at different districts and helping train teachers. I’ve been doing that for the last two years here in Liberty Hill.”

Langham hung up her teaching hat at the end of the school year. After 24 years of inspiring students and teachers alike, she is moving on to other ventures, some of which will remain in education, just in a different capacity.

When Langham thinks about what drove her to show up day in and day out for her students, there’s no hesitation in her answer.

“For me, it’s that moment when the light bulb goes off,” she said. “You can recognize they’ve made that connection. Those moments are gratifying as a teacher.”

Now that she’s able to look back on her career as she stands at the finish line, she feels confident that the generation of educators to follow are well-prepared to lead the next generation of students to their highest level of potential.

She had a parting message for all whom she’s touched over the years.

“My biggest contribution, I think, has been mentoring teachers and preparing them,” she said. “I think that what I would want them to know is that they make a difference and they are there to change the lives of the children. In their heart, I hope that they feel valued –that they are worth it. We need them.”

After teaching in many Central Texas school districts, Langham said she found a home in Liberty Hill.

Her love of her neighborhood and her community in general will ensure those whose lives she impacted will still have many opportunities to see her familiar face.

Whether it’s on one of her beloved walks, at the grocery store, or just out and about, she’ll still be a part of the community she helped

shape.

Likewise, the community will still be there to make her feel welcome and, most of all, appreciated.

Roxanne Brown, Secondary Teacher of the Year

Roxanne Brown has been teaching at Liberty Hill High School for several years now and was quick to share her newfound recognition amongst her fellow teachers and faculty members, stating “It takes all of us” as she sat down to reflect on not only her recent accolades, but also her career in general and the path that led her to LHISD - one she holds close to her heart.

Originally from the Chicago area, Brown had other ideas in mind when it came to a career, and teaching wasn’t even on the radar. Luckily for so many, fate had other plans.

“Kicking and screaming, I became a teacher,” she said. “I grew up in a family of teachers, counselors and school principals, but I already had a career [in landscape architecture].”

Given her geographical location, the winters weren’t kind to the landscaping industry and Brown found herself with idle time on her hands and many hours to fill during those months.

Given the fact so many of her family members were already in education, she was a shoo-in for a substitute teacher role.

“So, I was like, ‘alright, I’ll give it a shot,’” said Brown. “I’ve done long term subbing or teaching ever since.”

Though she still holds her license in landscape architecture, Brown soon discovered another passion in teaching.

She may have been pulled into the industry by unforeseen circumstances, but there was that inherent ability within her all along, this recent award being one of the many indicators.

What keeps Brown at the top of her game and ready to serve her students every single day is a simple tenet.

“I think it was the first time a kid looked at me and was like, ‘I got it!’” she said. “Or, when you teach those kids who you watch grow –that you teach for a couple of years and they become seniors and come back and say, ‘thank you,’ not just for teaching them, but for being there for them – being consistent for them.”

Returning to the subject of teaching being a team sport rather than a one-person show, Brown spoke highly of her fellow teachers and faculty members, pointing to the biggest picture of all and what she sees as the reason she does what she does so well.

“I work with so many amazing people,” she said. “To have been chosen to be the campus teacher of the year – it’s humbling. It’s not something you would expect. It’s not why we’re here; it’s what we can leave behind to make a better world.”

Brown’s husband spent his career in the U.S. military, taking their family all over the country and even the world, giving her a rare glimpse into the vast differences in schools and communities alike.

When his last assignment brought them to

Shauna Langham, center, was named Liberty Hill Independent School District’s 2025 Elementary Teacher of the Year. This was a fitting sendoff, as she retired at the end of the school year. COURTESY PHOTO

Fort Cavazos in Killeen, little did they know home would be discovered some 40 miles away.

“We chose Liberty Hill for its standards and values,” she said. “I walk into H-E-B and the kids say hi. Parents will even come up and introduce themselves to me. Having been all over the U.S. and the world, that doesn’t happen very often. This has been one of the warmest and most caring communities. People honestly care.”

With 28 years of teaching now under her belt, Brown shows no signs of stopping or even slowing down.

If her career in education, however long it may be, could accomplish just one thing, it would be all about the students, Brown said.

“That a kid felt like they mattered,” she said. “That we all made a difference, even if it’s just for one kid. We touch so many lives. As long as we’ve made them know they’re better people, that’s the whole end of it.”

As another summer is underway, Brown is ready to spend some time with her family and hopefully do a bit of traveling. She also looks forward to sleeping in a bit more. But, just as one would expect from a teacher as dedicated as she is, she’s most looking forward to planning for the school year ahead.

The public celebration of Langham and Brown and their contributions to LHISD are a refreshing reminder of how important teachers, whether here or abroad, are to the communities they serve.

Even though for many teachers it may not be in a public ceremony or even an acknowl-

edgment made out loud, it stands to reason that every teacher is someone’s teacher of the year, or even teacher of their life.

Every teacher makes a meaningful difference. Whether they know it or not, they play the starring role in the critical development of the very future of the world. It’s time to

thank them for all they do.

As for the teachers out there, now is the time for summer. Sit back, kick your feet up and take a deep breath.

You deserve this break – you’ve earned it and the community thanks you wholeheartedly.

Roxanne Brown, center, is Liberty Hill Independent School District’s 2025 Secondary Teacher of the Year. Currently in her 28th year, she teaches at Liberty Hill High School. COURTESY PHOTO

Ride the Ranch program offers trail riding with a purpose

BY RACHEL N. MADISON STAFF WRITER

Amidst 1,300-acres of sprawling Central Texas hill country, one can escape the business of suburb life and enter a world of the past.

Families walk through oak-lined paths while adventurers on horseback meander through spacious fields, covered woodlands, rolling hills and winding rivers.

While this may harken memories of a wild west lifestyle long since gone, this ranch retreat sits right in Liberty Hill.

Located on land that boarders the South Fork of the San Gabriel River, Williamson County’s River Ranch County Park offers over 20 miles of equestrian and hiking trails for Williamson County residents to embrace the best the Texas landscape has to offer.

While many experienced riders trailer in their own horses, one woman saw an opportunity to share the park with a wider audience.

Inspired by the beauty of the ranch and all things equine, Liberty Hill resident Darlene Parker made it her mission to bring this characteristically Texas experience to all through her family-centered horse-riding business.

“One of the things I love about River Ranch is there’s a real variety of trails – shaded trees, meandering trails along the river, open pasture land, rocky places to climb and elevation changes with views,” said Parker. “It’s a really fantastic representation of Texas.”

Named in honor of Parker’s family lineage

and Texas ranch brand, her business, Diamond A Equine, has offered guided trail rides, horsemanship training and riding lessons throughout River Ranch County Park since 2023.

While Diamond A Equine’s partnership with River Ranch is relatively new, the business itself is not. Parker has been steadily growing Diamond A over the past decade since its founding in 2015.

“I grew up in San Antonio and got my first horse at 12,” she said. “I started riding as a child, very informally and self-taught. In my early 20s, it really took off from there.”

Over the years, she’s done trail riding across Texas and New Mexico, completed trail challenge competitions and offered equine assisted therapy training, horse boarding, lessons and more.

In addition to her love of riding, Parker prides herself on being a “business owner from large family with long history of serving the public in EMS.” She is also a member of the 20-miler club at River Ranch, which consists of a select group of people who have run, walked or hiked all 20-miles of the park’s trail systems.

In 2023, a series of personal experiences led Parker down the path of expanding her business to trail riding within the park.

“My brother-in-law was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer in January of 2023,” Parker said. “He had very young kids and one of his wishes was that I would bring our horses out to their place over in Burnet and

let the kids ride.”

Nervous because of the kids’ limited riding experience, Parker was doubtful it would work out. Then, she thought, “I have to do this right because this is a really important core memory that we’ll be creating.”

“It worked out beautifully and we were able to give my sister and her husband the experience of being able to see the kids and the horses,” she said.

Her brother-in-law, Shan Willson, passed away just a few months later.

“It was a really pivotal moment for our family connection, but also that experience singularly gave me the confidence that I can put people on these horses like we’ve been preparing over the years and that we were ready to go to new places,” said Parker.

Shortly after, the Parkers got a call from River Ranch County Park saying they were looking for someone to lead guided trail rides through the park for their opening weekend in July.

In honor of her brother-in-law and inspired by the idea of giving back the opportunity to create core memories like the ones she’d just shared with her family, she replied to the park with an enthusiastic, “Me!”

When July came, Parker set up for the event with one of their matriarch horses. Kids and families posed for pictures and were able to take short rides to experience the park. Filled with people of all ages, including a 94-year-old woman who used to ride and wanted one last time in the saddle, the event was a success.

“It worked out beautifully,” said Parker. “The people really enjoyed it and the horses did great. It helped us realize this this really is something special and something to be able to share.”

Motivated by the community engagement, friendliness of the staff and the park’s commitment to education and community stewardship of the land for generations to come, Parker decided to make the partnership official.

After completing all necessary paperwork and establishing liability, Parker established a website, called Ride the Ranch, for people to sign up for guided rides in the park.

“After all, the Texas cowboy image is legendary and many people love having that experience,” she said.

Today, Diamond A Equine serves as stewards of horses and opportunities, promoting values of confidence, gratitude and grit by sharing skills, resources and experiences with others so they can go forward and be better prepared for challenges they may face.

The business offers guided trail rides which utilize nearly all of the River Ranch trails, at rates of $125 for up to two hours, or $150 for a half-day. Riders of any age and ability are welcome to spend a day at the park on one of Diamond A’s horses.

All of Parker’s horses are high quality, from American Quarter Horse or American Paint Horse Association, and are cutting bred, meant they’re bred specifically to work cattle, Parker explained.

Diamond A Equine has partnered with River Ranch County Park to offer riders a chance to explore the park’s 20plus miles of trails covering various terrain. COURTESY PHOTO

Darlene Parker owns and operates Diamond A Equine, which she runs alongside family members and friends who serve as guides. COURTESY PHOTO

“They’re all willing-minded, responsive and overall, just a very high-quality horse,” she said. “That is something that is a real priority to me. I’ve been on trail rides and rent-a-horse situations where the saddles are not high quality and the horses just follow the next one in line and they’re hard to steer and things like that. This is a bit more

of a boutique. I think our horses are pretty special.”

Parker says most horses have come to her in need of a new home. She also does some breeding. The team just welcomed the newest member of the herd, Hondo, in April.

“I have built up a storehouse and feel like God just keeps filling it,” said Parker.

Diamond A’s team of dedicated and experienced educators and guides are another asset that makes it so special.

Parker, her husband, her twin sister and close friends all serve as guides. All are experienced in trail riding, hauling, fostering connections and educating people about the history and land of River Ranch County Park.

“So far, we’re a small group and we’ll probably remain so,” she said. “I think it’s more of a personal experience than having 20 people on the trail.”

Prior to all guided rides, Parker offers beginning pro rider lessons and orientation rides to get the rider familiar with the horse, learn basic safety and horsemanship, and make the best match based on skill level so that both are comfortable.

Riders must wear long pants and closedtoed shoes (jeans and cowboy boots preferred) but all helmets, water and tack are provided.

For safety, rider weight is limited to 240 pounds and release forms are required for both Diamond A Equine and River Ranch County Park before hitting the trails.

Looking back, Parker believes her journey toward this path was meant to be.

“It’s of those things where, in hindsight, you can see the common thread that has

led you down a pretty specific road to be prepared for something,” she said.

What a something it has turned out to be.

Parker said this experience has helped her to expand her community and make memories with many families and friends, and Diamond A Equine has allowed her to introduce some people to riding for the first time or allow those from other states or countries to partake in “Texas cowboy” culture.

Above all, her favorite experience has been to meet new people, connect with nature and share her blessings with others.

Parker hopes the Diamond A Equine experience will help prepare riders for going back out in into their world, she said.

“Whether it’s giving them some peace and respect or helping them overcome a challenge,” said Parker. “Or just having that impact and sharing that experience that might become a core memory for them is a big deal to me.”

Diamond A welcomes riders seasoned and new to explore the park with them by visiting their website at ridetheranch.org to schedule an orientation ride and trail experience.

To learn more about River Ranch County Park, visit wilcotx.gov/1292/River-RanchCounty-Park.

Diamond A Equine recently welcomed Hondo, the latest addition to its stable of horses. COURTESY PHOTO

Going against the grain

Local team of craftsmen sets standard for quality and service

BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER

If there’s one thing that is getting harder and harder to find these days, it’s the type of quality that exudes the unmistakable fact that someone gave their all to the product – no matter what it is – and left no detail untouched.

In a sea of run-of-the-mill products that were rushed through a factory floor and onto the shelves filled with an endless array of more of the same, there are islands scattered about and it is there you’ll find those who refuse to fall in line with the status quo of mediocrity and volume.

One such island is Liberty Hill’s own Specialty Millworks. They stand at the forefront of doing things differently.

Founded by Jay Jones a decade ago, he and his team offer a vast collection of fine wood products. From custom interior trim work to one-of-a-kind ornate and hand-crafted furniture, the sky is the limit in terms of bringing one’s wildest vision to fruition.

In a journey that began over 30 years ago, Jones didn’t necessarily know he would fall so in love with the woodworking craft. In a way, the trade found him and a lifelong friendship was born.

“Purely by accident,” he said of how he discovered the millwork trade. “I worked for Ross Perot at Electronic Data Systems in Plano – third shift. I had a lot of time on my hands, so I thought, ‘I need to try to develop a trade.’”

Well, develop a trade he did, and it just so happened it would set him on a course through years of successful projects, though it came with its fair share of roadblocks and forks in the road.

“It wasn’t that easy,” he said. “It’s still not. You only get what you put in and I’ve put a ton of stuff in. In order to succeed, you can’t stop, or slow down, or give in. You’ve got to carry yourself with a positive attitude and go up to people, having an understanding of gratitude and giving them the quality they want.”

Judging by the long list of repeat customers that seek out the services of Jones and his team, the quality of said service, as well as the product, speak volumes, keeping him and his team stacked with plenty to do on any given day.

But Jones wasn’t handed this reality when he moved to the Central Texas area. In fact, he knew practically no one, yet his church stepped in and helped establish his first connection in an all too unfamiliar place.

“My pastor knew somebody,” he said. “And that was my only link.”

That one link eventually grew into a core group of three Jones still holds closely today and attributes much of his success to as he ventured into uncharted territory over a decade ago.

So much so, rather than having a party to celebrate his recent commemorative 10-year anniversary of his arrival to the area, which also happened to fall near his birthday, he threw a party to celebrate them, the people that were there for him and continue to be to this day.

“I made them friendship plaques,” he said. “So, instead of me getting birthday gifts, I gave the gifts to them.”

Jones may be a businessman, but when push comes to shove, he’d rather give than receive and that character trait is evident throughout Specialty Millworks – in the people that work for him and the quality he so passionately requires of every single creation that goes out the door of his shop and into the hands of the customer.

It’s more than good business – it’s the driving force behind it all.

“There’s a lot of passion involved,” he said as he spoke about what still drives him to offer the best that he and his team can give to his customers. “People can’t find people that want to do millwork. They just want to give you the ‘regular regular’ and I don’t want to do that. So, for those out there that actually still want something custom, there’s still somebody there that can provide it.”

Seven years ago, Jones, along with his wife and son, decided to buy some acreage in Liberty Hill and plant some roots of their own.

With the purchase of an expansive fouracre parcel, it afforded him the space to build his millwork shop right next to their home, where the handywork of he and his team is prevalent throughout.

But it isn’t necessarily just the land, shop and house that make it their home – the location has much to do with it.

“I think it contributes a lot to my success,” he said of living within the Liberty Hill community. “I’m out of the hustle and bustle, yet close enough to still reach out for people

that want to do custom stuff. I think this place has a really big heart. It hasn’t grown to its fullest capacity and I want to be here for those people that need some things that are ‘not so regular.’”

Jones and his team continue to carve out a niche for themselves, making them a household name among many custom home and commercial builders throughout the Central Texas area.

“Nine times out of 10, when someone calls, they already know why they’re calling,” he said. “They have people they can call for things that are less stringent, but when they have something higher end, they know they can count on us. I don’t want to do all of their work. I don’t want all of the county or the state. It’s about trying to pick out the things that will satisfy the person’s needs and what they’re wanting and I try my best to give it to them.”

Evidence of Specialty Millworks’ quality can be seen in many restaurants and public spaces and in countless private homes. But it won’t be found blending in with the often drab or mundane off-the-shelf items.

From the precision work that requires hundreds of man-hours at times, to the thank-you letters written on premium linen paper and sent to every customer at the end of a project, big or small, it’s clear that Jones isn’t interested in doing “the regular” as he calls it.

“In this business, we’re not just pulling stuff off of a conveyor and stacking it,” he said. “I try to be different – that’s the whole point.” For more information on Specialty Millworks, visit specialtymillworksbyj.com.

A touch of Swedish elegance is shown in this custom-crafted Douglas Fir gate featuring carved tulips and stainless-steel hardware. COURTESY PHOTO

Above, Jay Jones is the founder of Specialty Millworks, which offers custom woodworking products and services throughout Central Texas. Right, the quality of craftmanship from the team at Specialty Millworks can be seen at the new amenities center at Regency at Santa Rita Ranch. COURTESY PHOTOS

Read our round up to learn more about the biggest news stories affecting our community

COMPILED BY LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT STAFF

Council approves task, change orders

In a special meeting on May 13, City Council approved a task order for the San Gabriel Wastewater Interceptor Project authorizing HR Green to perform engineering services for Phase II and III of the project, in an amount not to exceed $870,992. This cost will cover project management, design and bidding, and the construction phase.

An HR Green representative explained that these phases of the project will include conducting technical and environment assessments, geotechnical and design services, and terrain assessment surveys for extending the pipeline.

This will ultimately add 12,650 linear feet of the of 24-inch wastewater line that will run from north of State Highway 29 to connect with the wastewater manhole where Phase I ended.

The representative added they are committed to applying methods to reduce environmental, waterway, and property disruptions throughout the process.

Oath of office ceremonies held for city, school district

On May 14, City Council held an oath of office ceremony for those elected in Liberty Hill’s General Election on May 3. Pastor Ken DeHart from Celebration Church began the ceremony with a prayer for wisdom and guidance for the newly elected officers in their leadership positions. Justice of the Peace for Precinct #2, Judge Angela Williams, then administered oaths of office to Mayor Crystal Mancilla, Place 2 Council member Michael Helbing, newly elected Place 4 Council member Elisabeth Brown, and newly elected Place 6 Council member Tim Hennessy. All newly elected and reelected officials signed a statement of elected officials and, following their oath of office, received their certificates of election. Family and friends welcomed the council members at the

ceremony, which was followed by photos and a reception.

Council also approved the re-appointment of Presiding Judge Kevin Madison, who has served as Liberty Hill’s presiding judge since 2016, for another three-year term at their special meeting on May 13. The appointed judge’s term will now align with the mayor’s.

“I am honored to have been reappointed by the mayor and city council to serve the citizens of Liberty Hill Municipal Court for another three-year term,” Madison told The Independent. “I am blessed to have a great court staff.”

At their May 19 meeting, the Liberty Hill Independent School District Board of Trustees issued certificates of elections and issued oaths of office to re-elected members of the board. Megan Parsons and Kristi Hargrove were both administered oaths at the start of the May meeting. Both will serve three-year terms.

City Council holds budget workshop

On May 14, City Council heard a budget and finance presentation from Finance Director Josh Armstrong. The presentation included an overview of fiscal year’s 202425 budget, council priorities for the new fiscal year, property tax and tax rates, and goals for Liberty Hill’s financial future.

Armstrong began the presentation with a summary of council’s top priorities for fiscal year 2024-25 and continuing priorities for the new fiscal year. These include continuing water discussions to find water sources, securing funding for infrastructure, and implementing SCADA and cybersecurity measures.

Council also hopes to continue efforts for staffing and staff support, improving community accountability through the implementation of the Downtown Master Plan and Unified Development Code rewrite, as well as other priorities including implementation of outstanding ordinances and plans, improving legal services, and streamlining overall processes.

Armstrong summarized Liberty Hill’s five property tax rates and compared

them over the past four fiscal years. This included rates for Liberty Hill’s no-new-revenue tax rate, listed at 0.496771 for fiscal year 2024-25; the voter-approval tax rate at 0.494850; a de minimis tax rate at 0.525914; the debt rate at 0.165049; and the no-new-revenue maintenance and operations rate listed as 0.317979. Armstrong said all rates and rate changes over time are considered and analyzed in making city budgeting and tax rate decisions.

Armstrong concluded the presentation by affirming the importance of resolving fund balance policy, and his commitment to making this a priority going forward.

“My goal is to get a true operational cost of each department,” he told council. “Figuring out the true operational cost is what it takes to keep our fund balance where it needs to be so that if anything catastrophic were to happen, we have those funds set aside and we know what we can do to mitigate any sort of money going out the door that shouldn’t.”

Over the next several months, Armstrong will continue to sort and prioritize staff requests aligned with council goals, work with departments to build operational budgets, conduct revenue modeling for city funds, host additional budget workshops and public hearings with council, and ultimately propose a budget for council to pass in September.

School board hears annual SHAC report

At their May meeting, Liberty Hill’s School Health & Advisory Council (SHAC) presented their annual required report to the LHISD school board. The presentation covered key focus areas for the 2024-25 school year, as well as recommendations for altering and updating wellness resources for the students of LHISD.

All ISDs are required to have a SHAC, composed of a majority of members who are parents or community members not employed by the ISD. Council cabinet and committee members are annually appointed by the Board of Trustees. The Liberty Hill SHAC also has 12 district advisors, including Interim Superintendent Travis Motal, Chief of Police Chris Rybarski, principals and assistant principals from Legacy Ranch High School, Liberty Hill High School, Bill Burden Elementary, and other school staff.

Council Chair Sam Russo presented the updates to the board. He explained the vision of the SHAC as “a group of individuals representing segments of the community and school district that provides advice to the district on coordinated school health

programing and its impact on student health and learning.”

The mission of the council is “to use the WSCC model, Board of Trustees, and LHISD Profile of a Graduate to implement evidence-based wellness resources that promote lifelong wellness for staff, students, and the district community.”

The SHAC unites their mission and vision to review LHISD materials and courses and to make policy recommendations to the board regarding student health in the district.

The SHAC has four internal committees focused on different areas of student health and wellness. Each are discussed in detail throughout the council’s four assigned committee meetings during the 2024-25 year.

The sex education committee focused on finalizing and approving a comprehensive sex education and human sexuality curriculum for students. The council carefully reviewed course content, images, presentation methods and timing to ensure all materials were age-appropriate and educationally necessary.

Following review, the council recommended adopting the Choosing the Best and Lifeguard opt-in curriculums for grades six through nine to the Board.

“Both programs are abstinence based, which is required by state law, medically accurate programs that educate students about risks associated with sexual activity. They promote sexual delay as the safest option,” Russo told the board.

The Choosing the Best curriculum is slightly longer than the Lifeguard program, including an additional two sessions, and features a more interactive curriculum with electronic workbooks and take-home-activities designed to promote parent-child discussions.

Following the presentation, the board motioned to adopt the proposed opt-in human sexuality curriculum for a three-year period, from 2025 to 2028.

The wellness and community engagement committee focused on enhancing LHISD’s nutrition and wellness information and improving communication methods. This included evaluating the potential integration of the food services content available on the legacy LHISD app into ParentSquare, which would help create a more user-friendly and centralized experience for families.

The SHAC advised the board to continue to monitor the district-wide adoption of the Healthy Hints platform and assess the potential integration of Food Services content from the legacy LHISD app into the ParentSquare platform.

This year, the safety and drug safety commi ee reviewed how to strengthen crisis response protocols and improve communication systems to foster greater student safety within the district.

Initiatives included proposing efforts to increase anonymous reporting access, such as through the use of QR codes, prioritizing post-crisis support in the form of follow-up care for students and staff affected by crisis events, and streamlining overall communication strategies to increase parent engagement.

The commi ee advised the board to evaluate additional mental health and crisis management training options for faculty and staff and consider designating school principals to lead campus safety and drug prevention efforts.

Lastly, the mental health and drug abuse commi ee focused on strengthening drug prevention efforts, expanding awareness, and improving student and parent access to district support resources.

Some of the initiatives explored by the commi ee included programs to support mental health and drug prevention messaging, enhancing the counselors’ webpages to make mental health resources more accessible to families, and options for low-cost

counseling options.

The commi ee recommended conducting surveys of school administrators, nurses, and counselors to gain data on mental health and substance abuse trends and encourage campus collaboration that could be used to implemented data-driven strategies to support student and staff well-being.

Bond sales update shared with school board

LHISD’s Chief Financial Officer Rosanna Guerrero presented bond sales and use updates to the school board at their May meeting.

This included an overview of the 2021 and 2023 bond sales, their usage to date, and allocated remaining balances for future or current projects.

In 2021, Liberty Hill voters approved $491,700,000 in bonds. To date, the ISD has used $484,541,265 (98.5 percent) of the funds. A total of $7,158,735 remain allocated for projects, of which the board has already approved $6 million.

The 2023 bond included three sales amounting to a total of $317,115,000. To date, the ISD has only received the funding from the sale of the first two, in an

DON’T LET SUMMER

amount of $192,440,000. The ISD has spent $140,897,539, amounting to 73.2 percent, of the funds received for the first two sales, and has an allocated remaining balance of $51,542,461.

“We have been bringing projects to the board for considerations which include white fleet vehicles, the cooling tower projects, the roofing, technology devices throughout the years of these bonds. As we’ve had realized savings, we’ve been presenting the board with options to utilize those funds for capital purchases and equipment and improvements throughout the district,” said Guerrera.

The third sale for the 2023 bond occurred on May 6 in an amount of $124,675,000. The funds are now available to the school district.

Board approves optional flexible school day program for Liberty Hill Success Academy

At their May meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the Optional Flexible School Day Program (OFSDP) for students at the Liberty Hill Success Academy.

This program is a state-supported initia-

tive that provides an alternative schedule for students who need flexibility due to academic, personal or family challenges.

“We’re woefully underfunded by the state, so we’re looking for any opportunity within their current parameters to provide us with additional funds for students in the success academy program,” Assistant Superintendent Todd Washburn told the board.

Washburn explained that students in the success academy have a variety of needs. Many have inconsistent schedules where they need to leave early or come into class later.

Implementation of the program will allow the district to move away from average daily a endance formula for funding, which only permits the district to receive funding for the students participating two to four hours per day, to allow for partial credit of ADA funding for those students who are unable to meet the two to four hour mark.

The program will be individualized based on student need and if they qualify.

The district hopes this will help increase a endance rates at the academy by and to 9 percent and also help keep students enrolled in school, improve engagement and support academic recovery.

Panthers soccer title added to state sign

Liberty Hill received winners’ trophy, gold medals at ceremony

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

Thirty-two days later and 15 miles away from where they suffered the bitter disappointment of defeat in the Class 5A Division II state championship game, Liberty Hill’s boys’ soccer team experienced the joy it should have felt then at a ceremony to honor it after a 2-0 loss to Highland Park was reversed to a 1-0 win due to an ineligible player having competed in the contest.

With the temperature hitting triple-digits for the first time this spring, Panthers head coach Stefano Salerno and his players, along with friends, family and supporters gathered at the foot of the Liberty Hill state championship sign on the campus of Liberty Hill Middle School on Highway 29 to receive the state championship trophy and the gold medals they were initially deprived of.

Salerno said although he was enjoying the moment, this occasion was all about his players – as it always is.

“It’s a fantastic feeling,” he said. “But, one of the things I’ve tried to do a lot this year is when I see our team has found success, I always try to move away and just look at the guys celebrating. You know, the excitement

on their faces, seeing the excitement on the faces of of all the parents of our community –that’s the reward.”

Senior Zayd Rasheed said either way, getting all the way to the title game at the end of a magical playoff run was gratifying –although even more now.

“Obviously, it was the craziest eight hours of our lives,” he said. “You experience what it’s like for you to get to a state final and it’s something you know you’ll never forget whether you win or lose. But, to experience the win as well is phenomenal and we’re just appreciative of everything we have and the coaching staff we have and that really helped us win. “

Rasheed and his teammates had already visited the state sign on the night of the game after they had found out about the reversed result and took an impromptu team photo before deciding to seek out Salerno – who had yet to find out – at his home where a celebration took place until the early-morning hours complete with pancake breakfast courtesy of Salerno’s wife, Kristen – a fond memory in itself, said Salerno.

“Something I’ll never forget is the 1 a.m. wake-up call,” he said. “My dogs are never going to forget it and neither is my wife.”

Junior Alex Anaya said upon hearing the news, he was initially skeptical.

“It was going through my head like it wasn’t for real,” he said. “So I was kind of mad because I thought they were playing a prank.”

Senior Evan Harris said it was surreal to be standing there after the gauntlet of emotions he and his teammates had been through.

“It’s still pretty crazy to me with everything we’ve gone through this year,” he said. “But, now it’s up here on this sign, so it’s history forever.”

According to Salerno, the real turning point for his team was after it had defeated previously unbeaten Lopez, 2-0, in the regional semifinals – in large part due to his players’ unquestioned buy-in of what he and his staff had been preaching leading up to the contest.

“The kids knew how difficult the Lopez game was going to be,” said Salerno. “But, they didn’t question me and did exactly what I asked them to do – I could hear guys on the bench during the game saying this is exactly what we discussed and that’s always something you work so hard for. But when you hear that from the kids and you hear it at halftime – this is exactly how we planned it –the two weaknesses we spotted, we hit them on it and that’s how we scored both goals.”

Liberty Hill’s playoff run was all the more remarkable considering the Panthers were seconds away from a first-round exit before tying the game late and eventually prevailing in a shootout against Boerne – an occurrence Salerno attributed his squad’s steely resolve

throughout the postseason to.

“When you still find a way to tie that game and then win you’re like, okay, maybe this team understands what we’ve been talking about,” he said. “Then I think the moment where everything kicked was when you beat an undefeated team in Lopez that scored 119 goals, we kept a clean sheet against them and tactically executed our plan – which carried us forward against Juarez-Lincoln (1-0 regional final win) and Lake Creek (2-2 (9-8) state semifinal shootout win).”

Once the medals had been draped around the necks of the players and the trophy that was rightfully theirs had been awarded, Salerno was left to reflect on what exactly the entire experience had meant – especially with how it all unfolded in the aftermath making it perhaps even more valuable.

“We were robbed of experiencing this on the field. But in the end, we know the lessons we learned by doing things right and keeping belief in ourselves,” he said. “I think the bonds we created this year when things weren’t going well were even better than the ones we could’ve created if things were going well because we faced adversity and enjoyed every single moment. We struggled through certain moments this year, but we enjoyed it and I think the fact we didn’t enjoy this at Birkelbach Field on the 11th of April just made it even sweeter because today we get to celebrate closer with our community and these parents get to see their kids get a gold medal.”

Panthers players celebrate being awarded the Class 5A Division II state championship trophy and medals at a ceremony at Liberty Hill Middle School in May. PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

Liberty Hill High School’s boys’ soccer team was awarded the Class 5A Division II state championship trophy and medals at a ceremony at Liberty Hill Middle School in May. PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

At Specialty Millworks our focus is superb craftsmanship, distinctive design, and the nest quality materials to enhance your home or work environment. We specialize in all kinds of architectural millwork including but not limited to:

“We had a wonderful experience with Specialty Millworks! Very responsive, great work product, and pleasant work crew. We used a lot of contractors through our house build and wish they had all been as wonderful as Specialty. I will be contacting J again in the future for any additional projects! 5 Stars! ” – Mallory Taylor

143 Peaceful Valley Rd, Liberty Hill, TX 78642 | Call Us: 512-291-1751 www.specialtymillworksbyj.com / info@specialtymillworksbyj.com

W State Hwy

Main St , Ste. B, Downtown Liberty Hill EtzkornLaw com | jamie@etzkornlaw com

Paving the way

Freshman starts cricket league at Legacy Ranch High School

BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER

Change. It’s a word that can invoke many emotions at once and from each end of the spectrum.

For those who call Liberty Hill their home, change has become a daily theme. With each new mile of toll road being paved and as one sprawling shopping center a er another goes up seemingly overnight, no one can escape the “I wonder what that’s going to be?” conversation.

With a changing landscape comes an ever-increasing influx of new residents that hail from increasingly diverse places on the map and the community benefits together, enjoying the new tastes, sights and sounds, further expanding the culture of this tightknit body of people – a core principle of the American ideal.

Another benefit is the sports they bring along for the ride. As Central Texas diversifies its playing fields with such sports as lacrosse, another time-honored pastime has come to play – the sport of cricket.

“I’ve had a passion for cricket since I was nine or 10,” said Laksh Ravi, a Legacy Ranch freshman and captain of theWranglers cricket team. “So, I decided to join a club.”

Ravi and his family recently moved to Liberty Hill from North Austin, where he’d been a member of a local cricket club since middle school. Once he se led into his new home and made new friends, there was still something missing.

“Once I graduated into high school, I came up with an idea to start a club here,” he said. “I asked around for some interest from my fellow classmates and they were interested as well, so I decided to start a cricket club.”

Armed with an idea and a group of

like-minded friends, Ravi got right to work on bringing his idea to fruition.

A er joining a local cricket league and finding suitable grounds for both practice and play, the momentum started to build from there.

When it comes to the challenges that can occur along with recruiting for a sport that is mostly unknown to the local youth, he was quick to point out the transferability of many of the skills required to play some of the more traditional sports, such as baseball and tennis.

At the end of the day, Ravi explained simply having any athletic ability at all will suffice.

“It’s not that hard of a sport to pick up if you have any history with a sport that requires a bat or a ball, such as baseball or so ball,” he said. “It allows them to use their skills, just in a different kind of way. And anyone can join, as long as they want to and are passionate about it.”

Although the team is an intramural one, the community has shown up in big ways, a testament to its dedication to all their youth and their passion for competitive sports.

“It’s been really supportive,” Ravi said. “The LHISD school board president recently came down to one of our final games and (Legacy Ranch head football coach and athletic coordinator) Coach (Tim) Knicky came down to our semifinal game. It’s been very helpful. The league just allowed Legacy Ranch to join in with not much setup needed. We just had to get a couple players that are interested to join and some equipment and we recently got

our jerseys. With the minimal setup, we could focus on our school and how we can prepare the team to be a competitive team.”

Cricket continues to gain popularity amongst local youth and adults alike. Whether a spectator or participant, the growing interest will hopefully ensure that cricket will be much more than a passing trend.

“There’s been a lot of growth in cricket here, such as the World Cup happening in Dallas,” said Ravi. “So that also brought some popularity and people were a bit more interested in learning how to play or what it’s about.”

As far as Ravi is concerned, the future looks bright for his beloved sport and he doesn’t plan on si ing at idle – he has his eyes on the prize, the ultimate goal of his vision.

“I really hope for cricket to grow, not just in our school but all over Texas,” he said. “We’re trying to introduce this league into Dallas and Houston and we’ve go en responses from three teams in Dallas and one team in Houston. Within the next two years, we hope to grow our league. As far as our school and in the Austin area, we would love to make this into a UIL sport and give it some recognition.”

Legacy Ranch High School has started a cricket club from the ground up in hopes of further introducing the game to Central Texas. COURTESY PHOTO

Tennis trio makes trip to state tourney

Girls’ doubles, boys’ singles represented in San Antonio numbers.”

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

At the end of a school year that was Liberty Hill’s most successful athletics campaign in history, the Panthers’ tennis team joined the party with three players qualifying for the Class 5A state championships in San Antonio.

Senior Mehkayla Mulski and sophomore Lily Tobin featured in girls’ doubles, while junior Jacob Cooper played in the boys’ singles competition.

According to Mulski, the chemistry she and Tobin enjoy on the court has gone a long way toward the duo’s success.

“We’re able to keep each other happy,” said Mulski. “I used to get mad at myself a lot when I would make mistakes, but I’ve gotten a lot better at that.”

Tobin said making it all the way to the final tournament of the season wasn’t something she had envisioned.

“I really didn’t think we could actually make it to state,” she said. “Only two percent of players get there, which are some crazy

Last season, Mulski and Tobin lost in the second round of the district tournament and were determined to better there results this year – a process that began well before the following campaign.

“We played a lot over the summer, which helped a lot,” said Mulski. “So, we got better.”

Panthers head coach Sherry Rhoden attributed their success to the synergy that can only exist between players that are friends off the court as well as teammates on it.

“Mehkayla and Lily were able to build chemistry in the fall and carry it over to the spring season,” she said. “No matter what happens out there, somehow they can always make each other laugh.”

Cooper is certainly no stranger to success, as this season marked the third time in as many years as a varsity player he’s been crowned district champion – remarkably in three different disciplines – winning singles this season after having triumphed in doubles as a freshman and mixed doubles as a sophomore.

However, Cooper said he was disappointed with his performance at the state event this year.

“I felt more confident because I had the experience and knew what to expect,” he said. “But, I felt like I could’ve played a little better – I needed to be more aggressive than I was.”

Cooper took a great deal of satisfaction in the fact the Panthers were well-represented.

“It was cool because it seemed like we were one of the best teams there because we had more than one person playing,” he said. “Most other schools only had one.”

Despite the fact Cooper still has his entire senior season to play, he’s already committed to playing college tennis at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene for the NCAA Division III Cowboys, where he will

reunite with current teammate Parker DeCosmo – but well before then has some serious work to do, he said.

“This summer I have five weeks of camps I’m going to,” said Cooper. “I’m changing my grip, so that’s something I really need to work on.”

Rhoden said that’s typical of Cooper’s desire to always improve.

“Jacob knows he needs to get better to compete at the college level,” she said. “But, he’s always looking to be better and is never satisfied with his game.”

In order to maintain the team success the Panthers had during the fall season, as well as the individual excellence on display in the spring, though, Rhoden said there’s virtually no time for anyone to rest on accomplishments.

“When you think about it, we start in July to get ready for district team tennis in August,” she said. “Then we pretty much go all year through the end of the spring season in May, so you really can’t take the summer off.”

Panthers girls’ doubles team Mehkayla Mulski and Lily Tobin are successful on the court due to the chemistry the duo has built up. COURTESY PHOTO

Liberty Hill’s Mehkayla Mulski, Lily Tobin and Jacob Cooper, here with Panthers head tennis coach Sherry Rhoden, qualified for the Class 5A state tournament in San Antonio. COURTESY PHOTO

Liberty Hill’s Jacob Cooper has been district champion in singles, doubles and mixed doubles in his first three seasons. COURTESY PHOTO

In the zone on the mound

Wranglers baseball gets off to promising start

BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER

Starting from scratch is tough, no matter what the task may be. Just ask the mom that opted to try that bread recipe she found online rather than getting the hot, fresh loaf from the HEB bakery. “Quick and easy, they say!” is likely the less colorful phrase chosen as she scans her once pristine kitchen that now mimics a flour mill. Alas, the smiling faces at the dinner table always prove it to be a worthwhile venture, and it keeps them coming back for more.

As tough as it may be, sometimes there just aren’t any other options. In the case of the Legacy Ranch baseball program, the lone treacherous path ahead was seen as an opportunity, but it just so happens that the key ingredient fell right at their feet, making this recipe much, much sweeter from the word go.

“He was one of our most consistent arms the entire year,” said Wranglers head coach Emery Atkisson of pitcher Blake DeShazo. “Stemming back to last summer when I got

with natural of its own

to watch him throw for the first time, as a coaching staff we’re excited to get to have him. We’re excited for him to be a Wrangler and a part of our program.”

DeShazo got his start in baseball at an early age, thanks to his dad who built him a mound of his own in the backyard of his childhood home. His competitive nature surely didn’t hurt things, either. Although he has put in years of hard work to hone his pitching skills, there seemed to be an inherent ability within him that left countless pitches unanswered.

“It starts and ends with the guy on the mound,” said Atkisson. “And with a guy like Blake, who’s going to fill up the zone and work with a great tempo and compete for his team, we’re going to be in a pretty good spot towards the end of the game – to win it.”

For DeShazo, it comes down to his level of determination more than anything else. Natural abilities aside, his focus is razor sharp, on the mound and on the end result.

“Honestly, it’s just me being competitive and always wanting to win,” he said. “I’ve

been kind of competitive my whole life and when I’m on the mound, I want to win. I want to throw strikes. I want to beat the other team. I want to strike out every batter.”

Atkisson’s confidence in DeShazo speaks volumes and it confirms that he and his staff were right to be excited about what they saw in him last summer. The expectations were there from that day forth and DeShazo has obviously lived up to them and more.

“We knew early on Blake was going to be very competitive for us,” he said. “Anytime he gets on the mound, we have the utmost confidence that he’s going to put our team in a position to win the game.”

DeShazo may be a standout performer, but he gives credit where credit is due. He knows all too well that it takes more than one ingredient to bake a cake.

“We had a great season, honestly. We started off pretty hot – we were playing together,” he said of his teammates. “Especially playing against older kids, like JV and varsity kids. It gave us more experience playing harder competition – it made us push ourselves harder to go compete with them and win the game.”

Even bigger than his team is the inspiration he finds in the man that saw a spark in his young son and gave him all the fuel he needed to make his flame burn bright, the same flame that Atkisson and his staff saw at first pitch.

“My dad,” DeShazo said. “He’s always been there to help me. He’s the one who taught me and showed me baseball – taught me how to pitch and hit.

One can only play baseball so much in

a given day, month or season, something DeShazo obviously understands.

Among his hobbies are fishing, hunting and any outdoor sport. But just because he isn’t performing in the sport he loves most, don’t think for a second that he’s going to take it easy on anyone.

The competitive spirit is alive and well inside this young man.

Too good to leave out, DeShazo, just like so many other athletes, has a superstition of his own when game day comes. Consider it yet another indicator that he takes Legacy Ranch baseball very seriously, even at the expense of a weaker constitution.

“Washing my socks,” he said regarding his gametime superstition. “When I first got my socks, I started playing good. I didn’t wash them for a while and I kept playing good. Then I had to wash them because they got pretty bad and that was the game I didn’t pitch too good. So, I washed them again so I could reverse it and I started playing good again. I didn’t wash them after that.”

DeShazo has played a pivotal role in bringing the Wranglers off paper and into the mixing bowl.

Atkisson and his team have been cooking up a storm all season long and the results were pretty sweet. So sweet, they now command the attention of all who touch this team.

From the incoming freshman and those diehard baseball families to those on the opposing team, just waiting for the chance to try and crack one of DeShazo’s fastballs to center field – they’ll keep coming back for more.

Wranglers freshman Blake DeShazo (7) credits his father with formally introducing the game to him as a youngster - including building a backyard mound. PHOTO BY A2Z MEDIA

Legacy Ranch pitcher Blake DeShazo (7) has solidified the Wranglers’ starting rotation this season.

PHOTO BY A2Z MEDIA

Pitching, defense power Panthers to Game 1 extra-innings win, 1-0

Liberty Hill baseball defeated Champion to take lead in regional final series

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

Close games decided by the finest of margins usually magnify plays that would normally go relatively unnoticed.

Such was the case in Liberty Hill’s Class 5A Division II regional final playoff series against Champion at Concordia University in Austin in May.

Such as when Panthers third baseman Reese Pestow made a pair of sparkling stops in the top of the second when the senior first dove to his backhand on a ground ball down the line before quickly ge ing back to his feet and firing to first baseman Jaxson Richter, who de ly scooped the ball on one hop for the out, then started a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Liberty Hill’s strong defense all game long – in addition to seven shutout innings from starter Jordan Andrews – was enough to power the Purple-and-Gold to a 1-0 win over the Chargers in nine innings on a walkoff RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Brady Gage and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

According to Andrews, his teammates behind him coupled with his own confidence carried the day.

“You just have to trust your stuff,” said Andrews, who lowered his earned-run-average on the season to 1.81 and whose seven strikeouts on the evening gives him 101 for the campaign. “I know I’m a good player, so I just have to go out there, believe I am, throw my stuff over the plate, have my defense back me up and we’ll be good from there.”

As good as Andrews was on the mound for the Panthers, Chargers senior Sawyer Smith

slide safely in, while Geletei advanced to third on the play and McVan reached first to load the bases for Gage with a chance to finally end the stalemate.

A er running the count to 3-2, including fouling off three pitches, Gage hit a grounder to second baseman Andrew Harrison, who fielded the ball cleanly, but bounced his throw home to catcher Sam Miller, allowing Geletei to score the game-winning run in walkoff fashion.

Up to that point in the proceedings, Panthers hitters had launched four balls to le field that would’ve cleared the fence for home runs at their home field –including a pair of drives by Carson Sharp and one each by Andrews and Calvert – but fell short in the larger dimensions of this particular venue, which Liberty Hill head coach Brandon Creek said simply created the urgency for his club to scratch out a run however it could.

was just as good as the hurlers took turns trading zeros on the scoreboard inning a er inning.

However, Liberty Hill had its chances to break the deadlock, most notably in the second inning when Giancarlo Geletei led off with a walk and a double by Caleb Calvert le runners on second and third with no outs.

But, Pestow grounded out to third, before Grayson McVan struck out and Gage was retired on a comebacker to Smith to extinguish the threat.

In fact, despite only having two hits through the first seven innings, the Panthers had runners on base every inning except the third, only to fail to plate any runs on each occasion, then were retired in order by Smith in the eighth.

“There were some balls hit hard on both sides tonight,” he said. “You have to just try to find a way to win in the conditions and our kids did.”

Once Andrews had switched to first base a er a 102-pitch outing, junior T.J. Dominguez took the ball and delivered two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win, striking out three of the six ba ers he faced – which Creek said was a welcome contribution to the cause.

All that changed, though, in the bo om of the ninth.

Geletei led off with a single to center, then moved to second on a one-out base hit to le by Pestow before Champion was let down by its defense a er Liberty Hill had been nearly flawless in the field all night.

Senior right-hander Aiden Smith had taken over for Sawyer Smith in the ninth a er the la er’s night was done a er having thrown 103 pitches in eight innings and a er fielding a ball hit right back to him with runners on first and second – which was a potential inning-ending double play – inexplicably lobbed the ball to second, allowing Pestow to

“Really proud of T.J. – he’s been ready all year,” he said, of Dominguez, who improved to 5-1 on the current campaign to go with a 3.28 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings. “He probably hasn’t pitched as much as he would’ve liked, but when his number’s been called, he’s been big for us.”

Creek highlighted the leather his side flashed and the fact it’s always a primary point of emphasis.

“We talk about playing catch at practice every day,” he said. “We always start by talking about how defense is the most important part of practice – throw the ball over the plate, let them field it and good things will happen.”

Liberty Hill’s Brady Gage (12) and Reese Pestow (20) celebrate after the Panthers’ 1-0 regional final playo win over Champion.

PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Above left, Liberty Hill’s 4x100-meter relay team of Jack Pitchford, Spencer Harvey, Kendrick Hicks and Preston Benefield finished sixth in a time of 41.14. Above right, Panthers thrower Justin Bordelon was sixth in the discus with an e ort of 175-05.

At left, Panthers sprinter Camryn Wilson finished fourth in the girls’ 100-meter dash in 11.57 seconds.

At right, Liberty Hill’s DJ. Seaborn finished fifth in the boys’ triple jump with a jump of 46-09.

PHOTOS BY ROBERT EDWARDS

Remembering the ‘80s in Liberty Hill

BY JAMES WEAR COLUMNIST

Oh, the ‘80s. What a decade it was, even in that tiny town known as Liberty Hill. When the decade began, I was beginning my newspaper career up in Lampasas and by the time it ended I’d spent a two-year stint as editor of a new publication dubbed The Independent by its founder.

It was a decade of change for Liberty Hill as the population began to steadily grow and new ideas flowed into the town as folks, perhaps for the first time, began to realize this small Central Texas town was on the verge of major growth. The Independent, although still in its infancy, was a lead supporter of many of those new concepts and ideas. Liberty Hill had not yet incorporated.

It was the time when a group of civic-minded residents formed the Liberty Hill Lions Club, which would become a major force in shaping the community. Not only did the Lions pursue traditional goals of the organization, but they also launched a 5-K run and the annual Rip Roarin’ Ride that attracts cyclists from all over the state. And of course, many of the Lions played a key role in developing Liberty Hill’s first community park, known today as Lions Foundation Park.

Charter members of the Lions, which held its charter night in January 1989, included Garth Austin, Byron Bailey, Hollis Baker, Marjorie Bohanan, Charles Braun, Joyce Burden, William Burden, Jerry Casebolt,

Pamela Casebolt, Bud De Groot, Ron Dungan, Jason Fry, Weldon Goodson, Dianna Graham, Wanda Lane, Jim Linzy, Hank Masur, Laddie Matula, Charles Mynard, Louine Noble, Gary Spivey, Jimmy Spivey, Bill Stohler, Frank Watson, Lyn Watson, Richard Wear, Ray Webb and Larry Wehlmann.

Many of those charter members have since passed on, but certainly left their mark in helping shape the community.

The ‘80s were also the decade that saw Liberty Hill schools begin to gain area and statewide attention in athletic endeavors. In 1984, Charlie Braun, in his seventh year as head coach of the Panthers, guided Liberty Hill’s varsity football team to a 10-2-1 overall record. The Panthers won their first nine games that season before losing to Thorndale in a bid to capture the district title outright. But Braun and his squad rebounded, winning their first two games in the state playoffs before finally being ousted by Universal Randolph.

As it turned out, however, it was basketball where Liberty Hill would earn the attention of fans across the state. The 1986-87 edition of the boys varsity team made it all the way to the state title game, although second-year coach Rusty Segler’s team was unsuccessful in its bid for the championship, Liberty Hill returned to the finals the following season, but again came up just short. Nonetheless, the success that Liberty Hill enjoyed in football and basketball (as well as baseball and track) set the stage for future teams.

Feb. 28, 1943 - May 26, 2025

It was during the 1980s that elementary children would enjoy a walk to the downtown area and among the places for them to visit was the Liberty Hill fire station. At the time the department was totally manned by volunteers. The late James Vaughan was among those and he would often bring out a truck, crank up it up and allow the kids to man a charged water line.

On a more personal note, it was during these years I first met the young man who would eventually become my brother-inlaw and a young girl who would become my sister-in-law. Darla Kemp was a cheerleader during the late ‘80s for the Panthers while her boyfriend, James Lane, was a star running back for Braun’s Panthers and a

Mildred Hicks

Mildred Marie Hicks was born at home in Marble Falls, Texas, assisted by a mid-wife on February 28, 1943, the youngest of fifteen children. By the time she entered school, the family had moved to New Hope (Cedar Park Texas), then to Georgetown, Texas, and finally Liberty Hill, Texas. Shortly after graduating from high school, she married J. W Hicks, Jr., and for the next 72 years lived in Liberty Hill and remained married for 63 years. They raised two sons, Marty Devin Hicks (wife Candy) of Liberty Hill and Bradley Navell Hicks (wife Vicki) of Leander, Texas. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Vina and Henry Cantrell, brothers Merlin

(Shorty) Cantrell and Thelma (wife), Jay Cantrell and Golda (wife), Floyd Cantrell and Carmella (wife) Charles Delbert Cantrell and Helen (wife), Henry Lee Cantrell and Clara (wife), Claude (Dobbin) Cantrell and Donne (wife), Bill Cantrell (half-brother) and Emma (wife), Ruben Cantrell, and sisters Dorothy Cantrell and Thomas (husband), Anna Loue Holder and Prior F. (husband), Bernice McCarthy and Doarse (husband), La Von Holder and Donald (husband), Mell V Watters and Quintus (husband), and Clara Ann Cantrell (half-sister).

She is survived by four grandchildren, ten great grand-children, and many nieces and nephews.

Mildred obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ and was baptized into the Highway 29 Church of Christ in

member of the team that clinched Liberty Hill’s first outright district title in 1987. Little did I know that I’d marry James’ older sister. James and Darla also ended up marrying a few years later.

Darla was among the cheerleaders who agreed to pose for a photo during a pep rally when members of my newspaper staff and I were permitted to perform a short skit by then high school principal Dalton West. Looking back today, the excitement of the ‘80s paved the way for much of what has come about over the past few years and many of the achievements during that 10-year span, including the creation of an International Sculpture Park, continue to impact the future of the community.

1962. She was an inspiration to her entire family and the community, as a whole.

She worked as a homemaker until her boys became teen-agers, where she developed a number of crafts to assist the family living, including sewing for the family and the public, baking wedding cakes for the public, selling milk and eggs, canning vegetables, owning and managing a plant nursey in Marble Falls, Texas, and eventually retiring from EDS. In addition, she belonged to the Liberty Hill Garden Club and served on the Liberty Hill Cemetery Board of Directors.

She died while living in the Bertram Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bertram, Texas, after battling Alzheimer’s.

Liberty Hill first began seeing success on the gridiron back in the 1980s with the Panthers, under the guidance of Coach Charlie Braun, qualifying for the state playoffs in 1984 and then, in 1987, capturing its first district title outright. COURTESY PHOTO

EVENTS CALENDAR

June 6

SUE FOLEY

Globe Theatre

132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram

8-10 p.m., $30-$233 globetheatretx.com

June 7

HOWL AT THE MOON Reunion Ranch

850 CR 255, Georgetown 6-10 p.m., $50 l4cares.com

GUNS & OIL BAND

Agape BBQ

3610 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

6:30 p.m. agapebbq.com

June 8

KARAOKE

San Gabriel River Brewery

500 Chaparral Drive, Liberty Hill 3-6 p.m. sangabrielriverbrewery.com

June 9

THE WAY INSECTS INFLUENCE HUMANITY

Williamson County Master Gardener

100 Wilco Way, Georgetown (Georgetown Annex)  6:45-8 p.m. txmg.org/williamson

June 11

TRIVIA NIGHT

Liberty Hill Beer Market 13851 SH 29, Liberty Hill 7-9 p.m. facebook.com/LHBM512

June 12

OPEN MIC NIGHT

Agape BBQ

3610 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 6-8 p.m. agapebbq.com

NAME THAT TUNE BINGO Time Out Sports Bar

The Market LHTX

Water Tower Parking Lot

Downtown Liberty Hill

6-9 p.m. themarketlhtx.com

SATURDAY UNDER THE OAKS WITH BOOT ROCK BOYS

Agape BBQ

3610 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 6:30 p.m. agapebbq.com

June 15

JUNE 2025 SHOOT

Hill Country Bowhunters 540 CR 258, Liberty Hill

8 a.m.

facebook.com/HillCountryBowhunters

June 17

COMMUNITY DATE NIGHT

Conejos Tex-Mex Cantina 2082 Hwy. 183, Leander 6 p.m. conejostx.com

TRIVIA NIGHT

Liberty Tavern

3010 FM 1869, Liberty Hill 7-9 p.m. libertytavern.co

June 20

FRIDAY NIGHT KARAOKE

Hometown Watering Hole 3317 Hwy. 29, Bertram

10280 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

7-9 p.m. facebook.com/ timeoutsportsbarlh

June 13

JACK INGRAM Globe Theatre

132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 8-10 p.m., $36$348 globetheatretx. com

June 14

HELLO SUMMER COOKIE DECORATING CLASS

Baked by Joy Leigh

1201 Main St., Liberty Hill

12-2 p.m., $50 bakedbyjoyleigh. com

SECOND SATURDAY SUNSET MARKET

7 p.m. hometownwateringhole.net

June 21

THE DECADES

The Vineyard at Florence 111 Via Francesco Way, Florence 6-9 p.m. thevineyardatflorence.com

June 26

CITY NEWS & BREWS

Liberty Hill City Hall 926 Main St., Liberty Hill 8:30-9:30 a.m. libertyhilltx.gov

June 28

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AND VENDOR MARKET

The Market LHTX

Louine Noble Elementary School 101 Loop 332, Liberty Hill

9 a.m.-1 p.m. themarketlhtx.com

July 3

INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECTACU-

LAR

Liberty Hill Middle School

13125 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 6-10 p.m. experiencelhtx.com

The Decades

Jack Ingram

Hello Summer Cookie Decorating Class

Sue Foley