LH INDEPENDENT 12-16-21

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2021

Volume 35, Issue 4

Community supports Panthers as they head to state game

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer For head football coach Kent Walker, keeping the team on a routine is part of his keys to success. But for the Liberty Hill community, this magical run to the State Football Championship is anything but routine.

Sure, the Panthers made it to State just three years ago.

But in that time the district has grown by roughly 25%.

New residents mean new fans and new opportunities to support the State-bound football team.

“We have a great community who is very, very supportive of our school district as a whole. Everything we do, our community rallies behind these kids and the staff,” Superintendent Steven Snell said. “It’s important to small towns, especially in Texas. It’s very exciting and it’s cool to see all of our students K through 12 get excited for the boys.”

That support has come in a variety of ways. Residents hang team flags outside to show support on Fridays.

Local Facebook groups have been filled with congratulatory posts following each victory. Schools have encouraged students to wear purple and gold on Fridays and the district had early release so fans could make the trek to the playoff games.

The further the Panthers have gone in this playoff run, the more support the football booster club has seen. Since the team punched their ticket to the State Championship last Friday with a decisive victory over Crosby, the booster club received over $3,000 in donations.

The money will be used to help pay for charter buses for the team’s trip to Arlington, hotel rooms and a special team dinner on Wednesday.

The booster club was able to provide a scholarship last

See SUPPORT, Page 8

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One step from state trophy Liberty Hill will face South Oak Cliff in title game

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Liberty Hill will look to win its first Class 5A state title on Saturday when the Panthers face South Oak Cliff at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Following the Purple-andGold’s 42-14 conquest of Houston-area Crosby last week in a rematch of the previous year’s semifinal, Liberty Hill will look to defeat another bigcity squad in the Golden Bears, who hail from Dallas.

Interestingly enough, South Oak Cliff (13-1) in making its first-ever appearance in a title contest, is the first Dallas-area school to advance to a state championship game since 2004, with no Big D team winning a title since 1958.

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Panthers senior Andon Thomas (#10) scored a touchdown on offense and had 20 tackles on defense in Liberty Hill’s 42-14 state See STATE, Page 7 semifinal win over Crosby.

Downtown committee plans audio tour

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer The recently reestablished Downtown Beautification Committee has big plans for Liberty Hill’s historic downtown, including creating an audio tour complete with historical photos of buildings and stories from long-time residents.

The committee met last week to discuss the best ways an audio tour could be utilized downtown. One idea was to create a map of the downtown area that would show the historical buildings including QR codes people could scan to hear about the buildings’ pasts.

Secretary Jodi McCumber added that she would be interested in looking at a passport-style option instead of a map, so that visitors can use them to see all the sites of downtown, as well as the restaurants and businesses. Her idea stems from the Texas Hill Country Passport, which people can use to visit different locations around the

their project.

Another idea was to first form a historical committee to get the ball rolling.

“There are several people

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer A list of 10 wastewater projects, which will cost the City an estimated $44.4 million over the next five years, have been prioritized by the City’s engineering firm, Steger Bizzell.

Engineer Curtis Steger said he has worked over the last few months, at the request of the City Council, to prioritize all the projects the City has in the pipeline for wastewater, including a cost breakdown for each project, so that Council knows when each project will be beginning and what it is estimated to cost. He presented the breakdown of the projects at the council’s workshop on Dec. 8.

See DOWNTOWN, Page 4

See CITY, Page 4

The Liberty Hill train depot in the 1890s was located on the southeast corner of RM 1869. The City of Liberty Hill is seeking historic photos to create an audio tour of the downtown area.

Hill Country, earn stamps, and then enter to win prizes.

“That might be the easiest way,” she said. “And then we can have a map on the inside of the downtown businesses.

There should be enough room

on the pages of the passport to include a QR code for each business.”

McCumber added that she will reach out to Texas Hill Country Passport for advice on how they started and funded

City sets wastewater CIP plan

Community members discuss emergency preparedness

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer In February, Mayor Liz Branigan woke up one morning to numerous phone calls from residents all over Liberty Hill.

She quickly realized what was going on: Liberty Hill was literally frozen. An ice storm had hit most of Texas and made it ©2021 The Liberty Hill Independent

nearly impossible for people to leave their homes. Locals had limited access to power, internet, water and warmth.

Branigan jumped into action to do what she could to help, along with several other citizens across the city, but now, nearly a year later, she has made it one of her top priorities to make sure the community is more prepared for emergencies like this.

“We may not have another ice storm,” Branigan said. “Somebody said to me, ‘Why are you getting ready for an ice storm?

We might not have another one for 10 years.’ But even if we don’t, we are sure to have a flood or tornado and we need to be prepared.”

Branigan invited a large group of people from the community to meet last week to discuss short-term goals to be prepared for another ice storm or similar emergency. Representatives from the City, the Liberty Hill Police Department, Liberty Hill Fire Department, Liberty Hill ISD, Operation Liberty

See EMERGENCY, Page 4

RACHEL MADISON PHOTO

A group of community members, including representatives from the City of Liberty Hill, Liberty Hill ISD, Liberty Hill police and fire departments, and Operation Liberty Hill, met Dec. 10 to come up with an emergency preparedness plan in case the community sees another ice storm like the one in February.

RACHEL MADISON PHOTO

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Local resident among two dead in SH 29 crash

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer The Texas Department of Public Safety released the names Dec. 11 of two drivers killed on State Highway 29 in a Dec. 7 accident.

At approximately 6:18 p.m.

Timmie Debusk, 71, from Tow, was driving a 2019 Kia Sedona westbound on SH 29 and, for unknown reasons, crossed the double yellow line, according to an statement from Sgt. Deon Cockrell of DPS. The Kia struck a 2014 Honda Insight driven by Gabriela Sanches, 21, of Liberty Hill. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene.

“The Texas Department of Public Safety would like to remind all drivers to minimize distractions, don’t drive fatigued, don’t drink and drive, obey traffic control devices and always wear your safety belt,” Cockrell said.

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OBITUARY George Allen Spencer February 4, 1947 December 13, 2021 George Allen Spencer, 74, of Liberty Hill, Texas passed away on December 13, 2021.

George was born February 4, 1947 in Carlsbad, New Mexico to Raymond and Lois (Wheeler) Spencer. He served in the United States Navy with a tour in Vietnam. He married Pamela (Gentry) Spencer in Carlsbad, New Mexico on July 25, 1965. He attended Austin Community College and was employed as a machinist for IBM and retired in 1998. He also worked as a machinist for Justec and then Absolute Machine until he completely retired. He was a member of The Hill Baptist Church and the VFW. He loved playing games, hunting, fishing, camping, traveling, playing with his grandkids and just being around his family.

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He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Raymond and David Spencer; cousin, Kenneth Spencer; and grandson, Justin Bogart.

He is survived by his spouse of 56 years, Pam Spencer of Liberty Hill, Texas; Daughters, Valorie Burton and husband Ken of Liberty Hill, Texas; Sherri Gribble and husband Ted of Paris, Texas; Karen Orr and husband Daniel of Spring, Texas; and Misty Alanis and husband, Tony of Spring, Texas; grandchildren Josh Bogart, Jacob Bogart (Dalgis Blanco), John Bogart, Chloe Burton, Jonah Bogart, Victoria Del Valle (Andres), Alex Gribble, George Gribble, Crystal Carroll (Cody), Ethan Orr, Katy Orr, Elly Orr, and Savanah Alanis; great-grandchildren Kinley, Annalise, Becca, Carter, Aurora and Ian; brother Floyd Spencer (Debbie); sister Raylene Spencer; sister-in-law

Long draws two challengers for Pct 2 Commissioner

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer Two candidates filed to challenge Cynthia Long for the Williamson County Commissioner Precinct 2 seat by the Dec. 13 deadline. Long, a Republican, has held the position since 2007.

J.T. Cox, 66, of Liberty Hill filed to run in the Republican primary. Cox spent 28 years in the oil fields, 18 of which were offshore. He is now a farmer and rancher and also works in construction.

In an interview with The Independent Cox said addressing county roads in Precinct 2 would be his top priority. He said he wants to make sure the rural voices are represented on the Court, and vowed to be responsive to all constituents in a timely manner, if elected.

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Mary Spencer; and sister-inlaw Carolyn Spencer.

A time of visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, December 20, 2021, at Ramsey Funeral Home in Georgetown, Texas. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, in the Chapel of Ramsey Funeral Home.

Mr. Spencer will be laid to rest at Liberty Hill Cemetery with Military Honors rendered by the United States Navy.

2023 LOOP 332, LIBERTY HILL, TX PEPANDPUNCH.SHOP

Cox will face Long in a March 1 primary election.

Long, 59, has lived in Williamson County since 1988 and served two terms on the Cedar Park City Council beginning in 1995. She has served as the Precinct 2 Commissioner since 2007, and is the first woman to hold the seat.

In an interview with The Independent Commissioner Long said as the County continues to grow and attract new businesses and residents, she will continue to lead the charge on property tax relief. She pointed to increased exemptions for residents 65 and older, disabled people and a homestead exemption passed by the Court during her tenure.

Commissioner Long said she will also focus on business recruitment so residents moving to the county can live, work and play here instead of having to drive down IH-35 or US Highway 183 to get to work.

Early voting in the Republican Primary begins on Feb. 14. The winner will face the Democrat challenger in the Nov. 8, 2022 general election.

Brigid Lester, 63, of Cedar Park is the only candidate that filed as a Democrat for the Precinct 2 seat. She graduated with the first class to have women at West Point Military Academy and served in the Army for 24 years before retiring. She recently retired a second time after 16 years as an engineer for National Oilwell Varco in Cedar Park.

Lester told The Independent that she is concerned about the progress the County is making with planned. If elected, her focus would be on infrastructure: clean water, good roads and responsive EMS.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 3

LHISD Police add two officers

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer The Liberty Hill ISD Police Department added two officers in December. Chief Sharif Mezayek introduced the new officers to the School Board on Monday.

John Noetzel, who holds a Master Peace Officer Certificate, recently retired from the Austin Police Department and brings his 32 years of law enforcement experience to LHISD. During his career Noetzel served in numerous special divisions including the SWAT Team, the Motor Unit and the Narcotics Unit. He also served on the honor guard and dive and swift water rescue team.

Noetzel is a U.S. Army veteran, serving for eight years in the airborne unit of the infantry division. His hobbies include physical fitness and riding motorcycles.

Jason Brandes began his career 14 years ago with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He holds a Master Peace Officer Certificate and a School Based Law Enforcement Certificate.

Brandes moved to Texas in 2009 to work with the Round

KRISTEN MERIWETHER PHOTO

LHISD PD Chief Sharif Mezayek (center) introduces new Officers Jason Brandes (left) and John Noetzel (right) to the Board of Trustees on Monday.

Rock Police Department and began working as a School Resource Officer with Round Rock High School three years later. He worked as a mentor, conducted investigations and taught law enforcement classes.

During his career, Brandes received a unit citation award for exceptional performance of duty, National Association of School Resource Officer Model Agency Award and RRISD Mentor of the Year award.

“I believe both of these guys are going to be a great addi-

tion to our department,” Chief Mezayek said. “I’m super excited to have them.”

The addition of the two officers brings the department total to five, with an additional officer planned to be hired over the summer.

“School safety is very, very important. It seems every year we see more and more examples of unnecessary violence in our schools,” Superintendent Steven Snell told The Independent. “I’m very happy that we’ve expanded our police force.”

Both officers will be stationed at various LHISD campuses. In addition to protecting students, they will help build relationships with students and ensure they have an outlet to reach out for help if they need it.

“I can’t say enough about Chief Mezayek and the leadership he provides,” Snell said. “John and Jason will be a great addition to the staff we already have in place.”

STACY COALE PHOTOS

LHISD aces financial audit for 2020-2021

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer The Liberty Hill Independent School District received another stellar financial review at Monday’s School Board meeting.

Pattillo, Brown and Hill, L.L.P audited the 2020-2021 Annual Financial Report and gave the district an unmodified opinion, the highest ranking available.

“Your guys are doing a super job,” John Manning of Pattillo, Brown and Hill said. “If I had 25 Liberty Hills, my life would be easier.”

The district was praised for having three months operating cash in the general fund balance, a feat many districts struggle to achieve.

KRISTEN MERIWETHER PHOTO “It’s taken Liberty Hill a Liberty Hill ISD Chief Financial Officer Rosanna Guerrero gives a presentation to the LHISD Board of Trustees at a recent long time to get a fund balance of three months. It’s meeting.

staff notebook Holiday Deadlines

Newspaper deadlines will not be changed for Christmas or New Year’s holidays. Deadlines for those editions will continue to be at 12 Noon on Mondays. The office will be closed Dec. 23, 24, 30, 31 so the staff may enjoy the holiday with their families.

Look for Letters to Santa in the Dec. 23 edition. Second graders from all Liberty Hill elementary schools wrote letters to Santa, who is a regular subscriber to The Independent.

just a testament to our business office,” Superintendent Steven Snell said. “It’s been since 2011 since we’ve gotten to that point, so great job.”

Manning, Snell and the School Board extended praise to Chief Financial Officer Rosanna Guerrero and her team for their hard work and dedication.

“It really does make our job easier when the community can come look at what’s going on and we can stand behind the promises that we made financially and know that they can trust us,” said Board President Megan Parsons.

LHISD received an “A” rating for “Superior Achievement” last month under Texas’ School FIRST financial accountability rating system.

Door Decorating Contest winners

Liberty Hill Elementary School teachers were recognized last week for their class creativity in the annual Holiday Door Decorating Contest, sponsored by The Independent. The newspaper presented cash prizes and gift cards to the winners. (TOP) First Place went to Terri Mayer, FSC Teacher and Jessica Mills (assistant) - Pre-K to 1st grade. (CENTER) Second Place went to Janis Kidd, Librarian, and Blanca Gonzalez. Students from the entire school traced, cut out and decorated their hand prints, and displayed in the shape of a Christmas tree. (ABOVE) Third Place went to Hillary Stippick and Jessica Stone (in window) - 4th grade, whose theme was “Selfie with the Elfie.”

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

City Council holds public hearings

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer The City Council voted unanimously Monday night to annex 4.4 acres of land into the City of Liberty Hill after no one came forward during a public hearing on the annexation.

The land, located at Fort Tumbleweed on County Road 277, was previously in the extraterritorial jurisdiction and will now be a part of the city. The applicant, Rick Miller with MP Capital Partners, intends to develop the property with a planned unit development. The land is still

currently zoned as agricultural, so the zoning would also have to be changed for that project to move forward.

The Council also voted unanimously to approve an ordinance accepting and approving a service and assessment plan for the Butler Farms Public Improvement District (PID). Following a second public hearing, to which no one from the public spoke, the council also unanimously approved an ordinance levying assessments on property within the Butler Farms PID in accordance with the Texas Local Government Code.

DOWNTOWN

Continued from Page 1

who have been around for a long time, so it might be worth just setting up a meeting and picking their brains,” City Communications Director Katie Amsler said. “We could take each individual business and just write down what we know about it to get started. “Gary Spivey, who is a local historian, has actually already recorded several people talking about the businesses downtown and what they used to look like.”

Chair Lonnie Wendling said other cities with historic downtowns, like Bastrop, are known for having several different committees to preserve and improve their downtown districts, which is why he likes the idea of creating a historical committee for Liberty Hill.

In addition to an audio tour, the committee is also hosting a contest to gather historic photos of downtown to paint a picture of what the area looked like decades ago. So far, the committee hasn’t received any submissions, but

locals have until Jan. 7 to submit their photos.

The top four photos will win prizes from the committee members’ downtown businesses, including Main Street Social, Viridian Rowe, Agape BBQ and Texas Honey Hole.

Photos can be submitted to kamsler@libertyhilltx.gov.

Additionally, Wendling said while the committee’s mission statement is clear on what the committee should do—which is to be the unifying facilitator of both the historic preservation and economic expansion of downtown Liberty Hill—he feels like the name of the committee needs to be changed to Downtown Revitalization Committee.

City Administrator Lacie Hale said the committee could give a recommendation to the City Council to change the name, to which the committee agreed to do after “wordsmithing” the mission statement to make everything align better.

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EMERGENCY

Hill, and more were in attendance to come up with several action items to help the community be more prepared for emergencies.

“We are late in the day getting this together,” said Council member Chris Pezold. “This isn’t a time to pat each other on the backs [for last February], because there were a lot of falls in the cracks. We have a list of things we need to work on and prepare for.”

Superintendent Steve Snell said the old gym, next door to the LHISD administration building, could work as a warming space for the community if needed. Branigan said she would like a generator or several space heaters to be purchased for that building.

Public Works Director Jay Holmes said he would look into the costs for purchasing a couple of 10,000-to-12,000watt generators as well as four to six space heaters.

Another concern the group brought up was getting non-potable water to those who need it during an emergency, including the elderly citizens who live at Liberty Manor.

“This storm was really about the first time non-potable water was more valuable than potable water,” Pezold said.

“We need to have small trucks,

CITY

Continued from Page 1

chains and sand at the ready so we can deliver water to people so they can flush.”

Rented generators are coming in for all of the City’s well sites, Holmes said, and the water tower and well sites have already been winterized.

The group also discussed how to get the general community involved, by getting commitments from local businesses that can supply water trucks if needed and are on call if something happens. In addition, the group discussed putting a call out on social media or via a dedicated website asking for people to sign up to be volunteers during emergency situations. People with four-wheel-drive vehicles that can get around in icy weather to deliver water and other essentials would be especially valuable, Branigan said.

Police Chief Royce Graeter said having a dedicated website for emergency situations would be a great way to alert the community to road closures, updates and who they should call for each situation.

“We also need to do a lot of community preparedness education,” he said. “If the community was prepared to deal with these kinds of events, by being stocked up on emergency food and water, and buckets or containers to hold that wa-

Continued from Page 1

The first couple of projects, an interceptor on County Road 266 and another on County Road 260, have been underway since January and are set to be completed in March 2023, Steger said. Those projects are estimated to cost $2.3 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

“We are now in the easement phase on that [CR266] project,” Steger said. “The easements are being acquired by legal counsel.”

Steger added that the City also began work on a lift station upgrade and force main for municipal utility district (MUD) 12 at Kauffman Loop in June, which is estimated to be a $1.3 million project upon completion.

“We are working on surveys for that project and are about 70 percent complete on the design,” Steger said.

Other projects underway as of October include the expansion of the current South Fork

Thursday, December 16, 2021

wastewater treatment plant from 2 million gallons per day to 4 million gallons per day at a cost of $20.4 million; upgrades to lift station #4 and the force main capacity in downtown Liberty Hill at a cost of $3.2 million; and an interceptor at the South San Gabriel River, south of downtown Liberty Hill and north of Williamson County’s River Ranch Park, at a cost of $4.7 million.

“I believe we’re on schedule with all our projects,” Steger said. “We’ve begun the design on the South Fork [wastewater treatment plant expansion].

We may actually be a month behind on that particular project, but we are within a month of when it should have started.”

The next wastewater project set to begin is an upgrade to a lift station for MUD 19, south of Highway 29 near the Liberty Parke subdivision, which is estimated to cost $1.3 million.

“We’ll be bringing that proj-

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ter, then we wouldn’t have to scramble to find those items.

Even if half of the people in town did this, it would take a lot of the burden off us [as first responders].”

Graeter added that when it comes to preparedness, he also wants the community to plan ahead by having fuel or propane set aside for their portable generators; extra oxygen or medications on hand in case they can’t get to a pharmacy; and even a stock of pet supplies so their pets can be taken care of as well.

“During these types of events we create service districts, so we have guys stationed on both ends of town so they don’t have to go through town to help people out,” Graeter said. “We also have a trailer we can put a generator on and take it around to the various neighborhoods to use as a recharging station for cell phones and oxygen tanks.”

Utilizing a reverse 9-1-1 system, as well as having a public radio system that allows for communication between the City, police department, school district and other community groups is another important aspect, Graeter said.

Another idea the group plans to move forward with is talking with the various subdivision homeowners associations

about keeping extra wood on hand for their amenity center fireplaces if they have them or having their amenity center be a place where residents could go to get warm.

City Administrator Lacie Hale said talking to other emergency management coordinators within Williamson County is another avenue that can be explored.

“During the ice storm, Georgetown’s emergency management contact was, in my opinion, our saving grace,” she said. “They got us connected to their churches to get us their resources. And I think we shouldn’t just communicate with the bigger cities like Georgetown or Round Rock, but also the Jarrells and the Florences, too, because those smaller towns had a tough time and we can all work together.”

The group decided that beginning in January, they would meet monthly to come up with a long-term plan to be prepared for future emergencies, because while the community survived the ice storm in February, Branigan said, being more prepared is crucial.

“Last time we survived and we came through very well because of the quality of our citizens, but we can be better moving forward,” she said.

ect to council in February or March, and that’ll be the next project moving forward,” Steger said.

Projects slated to begin in late 2022 and early 2023 include a pump station upgrade at the South Fork wastewater treatment plant at $1.2 million; an interceptor on Holmes Road at $472,000; and the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant at the North Fork of the San Gabriel River, near the Santa Rita Ranch subdivision, at an estimated cost of $7.5 million.

Also at the workshop, the Council: • Directed staff to continue to negotiate on proposed letter of intent between the City and Gandy Water, LLC for a water supply and treatment contract.

• Approved the final project and financing plan for the Butler Farms tax reinvestment zone (TIRZ) and authorized the Mayor to execute a financing agreement, waiver of

right of redemption and tax escrow agreement for the Butler Farms public improvement district.

• Set a public hearing for Jan. 5 on a proposed annexation for 5.3 acres north of Highway 29 on Holmes Road.

• Approved the draft form of the development agreement for the Holmes 29 planned unit development project, north of Highway 29 on Holmes Road.

The proposed project will include an apartment complex with 24 units in each of the 14 buildings, along with amenities such as a dog park, pool and clubhouse. The property still needs to go through the annexation and zoning processes before the project can begin.

The Council’s regularly scheduled meeting for Dec. 22 has been canceled due to the Christmas holiday. The Council will reconvene in the new year on Jan. 5 at 6 p.m.

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SPORTS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, December 16, 2021 Page 5

‘Different kind of intensity’ Panthers defense cranks it up a notch

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When the Panthers’ defense stepped onto the field at Merrill Green Stadium in Bryan last Friday against a high-powered Crosby offense, the Liberty Hill defenders needed to be on point as never before.

However, after allowing the Cougars to drive to the doorstep of its own end zone on their opening drive of the game, the Panthers received some good fortune in the form of a bad snap that sailed past the hands of the Crosby quarterback and was recovered by the defense.

Liberty Hill’s offense was more than happy to capitalize on the Cougars’ miscue by driving 90 yards for the opening touchdown of the game when it seemed for all the world their opponents would beat them to the punch in denting the scoreboard first.

After that opening drive, Crosby failed to seriously threaten despite a pair of third-quarter touchdowns that briefly made the contest a two-score affair.

Liberty Hill senior nose tackle Drake Torno was in the middle of the mayhem he and his teammates created from that opening drive on and said the

feeling on the field was quite remarkable.

“It was a different kind of intensity we had as a defense – it was off the charts,” said Torno, who recorded a sack and a forced fumble in the game.

“We definitely had a drive to beat them.”

Torno wasn’t a part of last season’s Panthers team that lost in such heartbreaking fashion on the same field to Crosby, but said he felt just as much a part of the surge of emotions surrounding the game.

“For 11 months, they had a big target on their heads,” he said, of the Cougars. “We assumed we were going to beat them.”

Torno added the angst between the teams was palpable.

“There was high tension between the teams,” said Torno.

“You could tell Liberty Hill was out for some heads.”

Head coach Kent Walker said there wasn’t anything necessarily unusual as far as how the Panthers’ defense went about its business from a strategic standpoint – they were simply on a higher level.

“Our kids just stepped up and played up to their ability,” said Walker. “Andon Thomas, Aaron Brewer, Colin Brandt –

we had people stepping up all over – they were playing for each other.”

Thomas led the Panthers with 20 tackles – high by even his lofty standards – with three of them for a loss, while Brewer had 12 to go with a pair of fumble recoveries, one of which he returned 30 yards for a touchdown, while Reid Bynum racked up 11 tackles and Devin Riley 10 in the game.

Walker said many of his players who suffered through the disappointment of last season’s result were determined to make sure it didn’t happen again.

“I really think they took it personal and used it to their advantage,” he said.

Following the Crosby turnover that turned the game on its ear at the outset, Walker said that moment seemed to fuel his side for the balance of the evening.

“When that happened, it really gave our kids a boost,” he said. “They started playing with some confidence and swagger.”

Torno said the defense simply needed an in-person look at Crosby’s offense in order to focus in and lock down on what they were trying to do.

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Liberty Hill’s Aaron Brewer (#3) returns a fumble for a touchdown while teammates Drake Torno (#44), Devin Riley (#7) and Reid Bynum (#62) form a convoy to the end zone during the Panthers’ 42-14 state semifinal win over Crosby.

“Once we got that first drive “I had a lot of faith in this his arrival and cultivated ever out of the way, we knew exact- team,” said Torno. “The since. ly what they were going to do progression was there to be “I came into this program wanting to contribute as much – they’re a good team, but the made.” game was ours.”

Despite the fact he’s only as possible,” he said. “I’ve After the Panthers split their been a part of the program for never been on a team with first four games of the sea- less than a year, Torno quickly such good chemistry that was son with a 2-2 record, Torno bought into the Purple-and- fighting for something. Liberty stayed the course as far as the Gold way of doing things and Hill has once again worked its belief he had in himself and is now reaping the rewards of magic and made us into a state his teammates, he said. the seeds that were sown upon championship team.”

Playing tough defense without calls proves difficult

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Kenzy Wise is a very physical basketball player.

In fact, often times the Liberty Hill senior forward can be a bit too physical for those whose job it is to officiate when she’s playing her trademark rugged style – especially at the defensive end of the court.

Point in case recently when the Lady Panthers played at the Salado tournament and Wise fouled out of two of the five games Liberty Hill played at the event.

However, she must always play on the edge of transgression in order to be fully effective and the player she truly is, which is what makes her such a valuable asset to head coach Chris Lange.

“Kenzy has what you want in a player,” said Lange. “When she plays like that, she inspires everyone around her because people feed off her energy and get fired up.”

Wise said it’s difficult to play tight defense when she knows the officials are on the lookout for any unauthorized contact, but they’ll sometimes give her a heads-up before sending an opposing player to the freethrow line.

“Some refs will yell if you have your hand on someone,” she said. “But, other times, they’ll just call it.”

Of course, it’s virtually impossible to play physically without committing fouls at some point and with only five to burn over the course of a contest, calls early in games can alter many aspects of the proceedings, including player substitutions, strategy and

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Kenzy Wise (#14) must play physical defense to be effective – something that is sometimes difficult without getting into foul trouble.

playing style.

Lange said it’s helpful to know the officiating crews and their tendencies when it comes to calling a game and is something he incorporates into pregame team talks.

“We kind of know based on what guys are coming in to work a game,” he said. “Some let you play and some don’t – you always have to expect some bad calls.”

For Wise, whenever she’s whistled, she said she immediately looks over to Lange on the sideline for his reaction in gauging whether or nor she

should be upset at the call.

“My facial expressions are really bad when it happens,” said Wise. “But if I see Coach Lange is yelling at the ref, it usually means it was a bad call.”

The last thing she ever wants to see is a player who plays her position leaving their seat in a hurried manner, she said.

“When I see someone going over to the scorer’s table to check in, I just start automatically walking off the court,” said Wise.

When that happens, it’s usually junior Abbie Billingsley

who is first off the Lady Panthers’ bench to supplant Wise on the floor, which leaves Lange with a different kind of player in that position for a particular amount of time.

Even so, he said he stays the strategic course in such situations.

“We coach all of our players the same in practice,” said Lange. “So, we don’t all of a sudden change the game plan.”

Billingsley entered in exactly such fashion in the first half of the Lady Panthers’ 36-28 home victory over Temple and

promptly drained a 3-pointer to give her team a 10-point lead after Wise had been called for a pair of fouls early on in the contest.

Players such as Billingsley – who can be counted on to step in and stem the tide when a starter in foul trouble must sit out significant minutes – are crucial to the cause despite the fact mistakes can be made due to relative inexperience, said Lange.

“I think even if some of our younger players have struggled early in the season, we can see they’re growing,” he

said. “If you’re never allowed to make mistakes, you’ll never learn.”

Wise has always played at the same frenetic pace going back to her younger years, but said upon reaching the high school level, it quickly becomes more challenging to stay out of foul trouble.

“When you get here, the game is so much faster,” she said.

“So, the tendency is to commit more fouls. But, I still play the same way because it’s important to always play good defense and get rebounds.”

But, it’s certainly not all just on Wise to get after it defensively for the team to successfully shut down opposing offenses, she said.

“All five of us have to be on the same page,” said Wise. “It doesn’t do any good if me and (senior center) Emma (Hubbard) are down low guarding if the others aren’t doing their jobs on the perimeter.”

“We always need to be talking and communicating with each other on defense,” said Wise.

“Whether or not you’re in a hole or a gap – that’s what makes it really effective. We’re not the greatest at it yet, but we’re getting better.”

So far this season, the Lady Panthers have found themselves more times than not playing low-scoring defensive battles, which suits Wise perfectly fine due to the fact it plays right into her preferred hoops methodology – although perhaps not what observers necessarily like to see, she said.

“I like those kinds of close games,” said Wise. “But, the parents and coaches don’t.

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Page 6

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Panthers qualify for state game with dominant win Liberty Hill defeated Crosby 42-14 in a rematch of last year’s semifinal

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor BRYAN -- On Dec. 10, Liberty Hill’s football team returned to the same place it had been less than 12 months earlier, when it suffered heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Crosby with a trip to Dallas for the state championship game on the line.

Only this time, the Panthers were awash in the glow of a 4214 victory over the Cougars at Merrill Green Stadium in Bryan that will indeed see them playing for the Class 5A Division II state championship at AT&T Stadium next Saturday.

“Eleven months ago, we were on this field and left in tears – it wasn’t a lot of fun,” said head coach Kent Walker. “But, our players worked for the last 11 months to get back to this moment.”

Following last year’s high-scoring affair and with the way both teams had been lighting up scoreboards this postseason on their respective marches to the semifinals, it seemed likely there would be a repeat of those kinds of theatrics.

However, the Panthers were the only ones who got that memo, although in the early going it looked as if Crosby would get on the board first after driving all the way to the Liberty Hill 1-yard line after the Panthers had been forced into a three-and-out before punting after receiving the opening kickoff.

But, on a 2nd-and-goal play, the snap sailed errantly past Cougars quarterback Cyrin Myles only to be recovered by the Panthers’ Aaron Brewer at the Liberty Hill 10, where the Panthers offense set up shop.

Liberty Hill began its usual parade of ballcarriers as it moved the ball methodically down the field, with Grady Flinn, Noah Long, Andon Thomas and Logan Dyer getting carries on the series.

But, it was Joe Pitchford who took his only carry of the possession 20 yards for the game’s first touchdown and a 7-0 Liberty Hill lead after Ethan Minix

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Noah Long (#21) scored a pair of touchdowns in Liberty Hill’s 42-14 semifinal win over Crosby on Friday night in helping the Panthers advance to the state championship game. tacked on the extra point in when Pitchford scored his sec- position they needed me to so “I couldn’t be more proud of finishing off a nine-play, 90- ond touchdown of the night I could make a contribution to Aaron – he really had a game yard drive. from two yards out and a 13-0 the team any way I could.” for us tonight,” he said. “But, Walker said the momentum lead after the extra point was Noah Long knifed in from I’m excited for all of our deshift – not to mention the missed. three yards out for a 21-0 lead fensive players.”

14-point swing – which was But, the drive contained one at the end of another long, Liberty Hill’s defense recaused by the Crosby miscue of the biggest plays of the eve- productive drive that took the mained relentless throughout on the doorstep and his own ning when Panthers quarter- Panthers 13 plays in covering and despite allowing a pair of team’s ability to capitalize on back Reese Vickers dropped 75 yards, leaving the Cougars Crosby third-quarter scores on the Cougars’ bad fortune went back on a 3rd-and-9 play from with one last chance to put a 10-yard run and a 44-yard a long way in establishing how the Liberty Hill 24-yard-line points on the board before reception, respectively, by the proceedings would play and heaved a high-arcing pass halftime.

Cougars senior wide receiver out. downfield where senior Will But, that attempt failed Kameren Kirkwood, the unit “No doubt about it – that set Szewczyk leaped for the ball and Liberty Hill took a shut down an offense that had the tone for the game,” he said. in double-coverage and came three-touchdown lead after the been a juggernaut all season.

“It really got us going.” down with it for a 17-yard gain first two quarters had played Liberty Hill senior defenIndeed it did, as Crosby and a first down. out on a balmy, blustery late sive end Lloyd Johnson, Jr. seemed stunned by the sudden For Szewczyk – who began autumn evening. attributed the Panthers’ perturn of events, while the Pan- the season as the Panthers’ Both teams traded punts in formance to a belief they had thers took full advantage of starting quarterback – only uneventfully opening the third entering the contest. having staggered their oppo- to suffer a broken arm in the quarter, but when Crosby lined “Coming into this game, we nents with an opening-round fourth game of the season, an up for a 2nd-and-24 from its had a completely different athaymaker. injury he didn’t return from own 36, it was Brewer who mosphere than last year,” said After the opening quarter end- until this week, the play pro- struck again, with his second Johnson. “Knowing what we ed with the same 7-0 scoreline, vided a chance for redemption fumble recovery of the night, went through last season, I Liberty Hill continued a drive after a season wracked with only the rangy senior lineback- don’t know how to explain it.” that had begun in the waning heartache. er returned this one 30 yards However, the pair of Crosby moments of the first and car“It’s amazing just to be a for a touchdown and a 28-0 touchdowns did manage to ried over into the second stan- part of the team again,” said lead. halve the deficit, but the Panza, which ended up lasting 12 Szewczyk. “I told the coaches Walker praised Brewer for his thers answered right back with plays and moving 77 yards I’d come back and play any efforts on the evening. two of their own.

PANTHER R

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Thomas scored from three yards out to restore a threescore lead at 35-14, before Long hammered the Cougars’ coffin shut with one of the slick sophomore’s trademark slashing sprints down the sideline in providing the final margin of victory.

Pitchford led the Panthers with 150 yards on 22 carries with a pair of touchdowns, while Long carried 15 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns, as Liberty Hill rolled up 433 rushing yards in all.

However, it was the Panthers’ defense that stole the show with a stonewall effort of one of the most potent offenses in the state.

“The effort from our defense was there all night,” said Walker. “We kind of got back on our heels on that first drive, but once they had that bad snap and we got on it, that just gave us all the momentum.”

Liberty Hill (13-2) will next face South Oak Cliff of Dallas (14-1), who defeated Cooper by a score of 44-10 in the other semifinal on Saturday at 11 a.m.

On this night, though, Walker could only celebrate on the same field he commiserated on last season following taking over the team after the passing of late head coach and older brother Jeff Walker.

“I don’t have any words to be honest – I really don’t,” said Walker. “Every time I start to think about it, I get a little choked up, but I know he’s up there smiling down on us.”

As far as everything that has transpired since then, Walker is simply proud and pleased with the efforts of everyone involved with the Panthers’ program – from the field, up into the stands and beyond.

“Our kids and our coaches have all worked their tails off,” he said. “Not to mention, our entire community who has been so supportive of us for the past 11 months – I really can’t say anymore.”

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Liberty Hill senior Grady Flinn (#43) is an outgoing individual with a passion for the physical side of football, who also enjoys gaming and the outdoors.

Serving up hits with a smile Senior back happy-go-lucky

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Grady Flinn was asked by his third-grade football coach what position he wanted to play as he embarked on his gridiron career, he wasn’t exactly sure where on the depth chart he would best fit in – but he knew one thing he definitely wanted to be part of his pigskin job description.

“I told him I wanted to be the tackler,” said Flinn.

He did exactly that, he said.

“Back then, I played all over the place,” said Flinn, a senior running back who has gained 824 yards on 86 carries with 11 touchdowns this season.

“Linebacker, safety, defensive end, cornerback – it didn’t matter – anything I could get.”

However, somewhere along the line, Flinn also developed a penchant for handing out hits while carrying the ball and by the time he reached high school, he was exclusively an offensive player, having started playing running back in fifth grade when he discovered he had a knack for a specific skill that made him a valuable ballcarrier despite other shortcomings in his game, he said.

“Funny thing is I was never fast or strong,” said Flinn.

“But, I could always hit the hole really quick.”

Although he admits to not being the biggest or strongest over the years, he does claim to have something that has never let him down – a tenacious mindset that was bestowed on him by his father.

“I’ve always been very aggressive with a lot of tenacity,” he said. “My dad always told me it’s better to play mad.”

According to Flinn, that kind of approach has fit in seamlessly with the Purple-and-

Gold football culture he has immersed himself in for the past four years.

“Here in Liberty Hill, we don’t focus on size,” said Flinn. “We focus on being tough – we wake up in the morning and hit each other.”

Panthers head coach Kent Walker said Flinn is the kind of player any coach would want on his team for a variety of reasons.

“Grady’s a team player and just an awesome young man,” said Walker. “He’s done a terrific job for us this year in splitting time at running back, does everything we ask of him and just goes about his business.”

In fact, Walker said with Flinn’s former football self still lurking beneath the surface, the possibility of defensive deployment isn’t completely out of the question.

“Grady’s very tough and to be truthful, if we didn’t need him on offense, we could use him on defense,” he said. “He likes contact and is what Liberty Hill football is all about.”

This season, Flinn has developed an effective partnership with sophomore Joe Pitchford, as the duo has shared time at the same position in the Panthers’ backfield – so effective in fact, Flinn said they’ve been dubbed with a nickname based on each one’s individual running style. “(Liberty Hill offensive coordinator) Coach (John) Hall calls us the ‘hammer and the scalpel,’” said Flinn. “I’m definitely the scalpel.”

Despite the fact Flinn isn’t sure of what career path he will pursue following graduation, he lists biology and English as his favorite classroom subjects, with an emphasis on

Driving the lane with authority

the former.

“I just find it all so interesting,” he said. “How the world was created with all the atoms holding everything together.”

Flinn is also an avid gamer, listing Spider-Man, Uncharted and Bloodborne as his favorites and said at times he channels some of what his characters play out in the virtual world to the real one.

“I think I take some of that violence onto the field with me,” he said.

Another passion Flinn has is an appreciation for the outdoors – something he said some may find contradictory to his gaming interests.

“I guess they look at gaming, which is indoors and it’s usually not someone who likes to go out in nature,” said Flinn.

“But, I love things like rock climbing, diving into water from high places and just roaming through the woods.

I just love to breath the fresh air.”

Flinn is big on family and has four siblings in sisters Julia, Mallory and Gracie and brother Matthew – who also played football for the Panthers – and has one goal for the future that would get him bragging rights over all of them, he said.

“I want to be the first one of us to graduate college,” said Flinn.

Many times an athlete will demonstrate a different persona in competition compared to the personality outside the arena and Flinn is no different despite his fiery facade on the field.

“I’m a really outgoing guy and don’t have anything to hide,” he said. “I love meeting and interacting with new people.”

Page 7

Poetic justice for Panthers

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor What is it about the north end zone at Merrill Green Stadium?

After all, the same patch of God’s green grass (or in this case, Man’s plastic pitch) that was so cruel and heartless to the Panthers at the death of last season suddenly became their salvation less than a year later.

You see, that hallowed ground was where Liberty Hill’s emotional roller-coaster of a playoff run last year flew off the tracks when a lastplay, two-point conversion in overtime that would’ve propelled the Purple-and-Gold to a state championship game in its first year as a Class 5A program went horribly wrong and doomed it to heartbreaking defeat.

So, when – as fate would have it – another snap went awry in the same spot on the field – only this time around for the Crosby Cougars – that’s right, the same team that were the benefactors of the Panthers’ bad fortune in the previous occurrence, it was Liberty Hill that flipped the script on the Houston area

State

school by recovering the fumble and driving 90 yards for the game’s first points and in doing do, snatched not only momentum from its opponents, but the contest itself.

It was symbolic of the journey the Panthers had been on since that fateful day 11 months earlier and brought full circle the mission they had been on to do something that doesn’t often present itself in sports – and life, in general – and that’s the chance for redemption.

Anyone who knows Liberty Hill football understands the crucible the program puts itself through under ordinary conditions in constantly readying itself for battle with an offseason conditioning regimen that borders on legendary.

Give these young men an extra dose of motivation and we’re now witnessing what they can do when their fires are stoked with such urgency and purpose.

As the postseason grinds on into the later rounds of the tournament, the contests become more rugged as the stakes are constantly raised, like one of those big-money Vegas poker events and in this one, Crosby was the one that blinked and bluffed, while Liberty Hill held all the cards

Continued from Page 1

On the other hand, Liberty Hill (13-2) are annual participants in long playoff runs, with this being the Panthers’ fourth appearance in a state championship game in three different classifications, winning back-to-back trophies in Class 3A Division II in 2006 and Class 3A Division I in 2007 before losing to La Vega in the Class 4A Division I game in 2018.

All that aside, head coach Kent Walker knows his team is in for quite a challenge in this one, he said.

“South Oak Cliff is the most athletic team we’ve played all season,” said Walker. “They have two really good running backs, a quarterback who can throw and run, and their receiving corps is loaded.”

But, that’s only the skill positions, as the Golden Bears’ offensive line averages 300 pounds, with a defense with speed to burn.

“Defensively, they’re extremely fast to the ball,” said Walker.

Senior quarterback Kevin Henry-Jennings is at the controls of the Golden Bears’ offense, throwing for 2,884 yards and 37 touchdowns with only three interceptions and has also rushed for 304 yards and seven scores on the season.

South Oak Cliff features a

two-headed backfield monster made up of seniors Ke’Undrae Hollywood (1,152 yards, 16 touchdowns) and Quaylon Farrar (980, 16), while the wideouts are led

by Jamyri Cauley (897 yards, nine touchdowns), Randy Reece (843, 10) and Ky Mathis (640, 11).

South Oak Cliff may be new to the postseason party, but the team it defeated in the other semifinal, Aledo, has won nine state titles since 2009, so despite their relative inexperience in the big game at season’s end, the Golden Bears will certainly present the Panthers with a formidable foe.

Walker said he’s confident his squad can ignore all the noise surrounding the contest.

“We’ve done a good job blocking out distractions – our players have handled it very well,” he said. “We have one goal in mind and that’s to win a state championship game.”

Sophomore sensation Noah Long leads Liberty Hill out of the backfield, with 2,008 yards and 29 touchdowns on the season, while fellow second-year player Joe Pitchford has gained 1,166 yards to go with 16 scores on the season.

Rounding out the Panthers’ Slot-T offense is junior Logan Dyer (930 yards, nine touch-

for a winning hand.

After three years of covering this team, we still never cease to be amazed at what this well-oiled machine can accomplish when firing on all cylinders – and most times, even when it’s not – and that’s making piling up yards and points look easy on the road to victory.

To think, we had some doubts entering the playoffs as to whether or not this Panthers side would be able to match what last year’s squad did.

Not only have they done just that, but they’ve taken it one step further, with yet one last hurdle to overcome in claiming a state championship trophy.

However, the way they’ve done so with an entirely new offensive lineup and a resurgent defense has been utterly remarkable for a team that was 2-2 entering district play, but is now riding the wave of an 11-game winning streak.

The gridiron at AT&T Stadium in Arlington runs more east-west than north-south, so this week there won’t necessarily be a geographical theme to what unfolds on the Cowboys’ home field, but the compass is certainly pointing in the right direction for the Panthers.

downs) and senior Grady Flinn (824, 11), with senior linebacker Andon Thomas doing his fair share of carrying the ball on offense in recent weeks, picking up 215 yards and five touchdowns in the process.

Of course, Thomas’ stockand-trade is stopping opposing ballcarriers, leading Liberty Hill with 230 tackles on the season – including an incredible 20 against Crosby last week, while fellow seniors Reid Bynum (145) and Aaron Brewer (114) have all surpassed the century mark in stops.

Both teams are ranked in the top 10 in Class 5A Division II in scoring average and defense, with the Panthers putting up 45.7 points per game while allowing only 14.4 and the Golden Bears scoring 47.9 and allowing 12.2.

Walker said his team wants to avoid the runner-up status they had to settle for the last time they set foot on the field with the big star at the 50-yard-line.

“Three years ago, we brought home second, so this time we want to take it one step further,” he said. “I’m so excited for our kids and our entire community – it’s a great time to be a Liberty Hill Panther.”

Presence in the pain opens up Panthers’ offense

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Having the ability to drive the lane to the basket is an element that is worth its weight in gold for any hoops squad.

Defenses suddenly collapse on a player with the ball in his hands as he makes his way to the rim, which opens up potential scoring opportunities elsewhere on the court from midrange jump shots all the way out to the 3-point perimeter.

The Panthers have a stable of players that can do just this and one in particular is 6-foot-3 senior forward Anthony Sierras, who has the uncanny knack of getting open looks at the basket from a variety of different spots on the court and is a valuable asset for head coach Barry Boren to have at his disposal.

Along with others such as 6-foot-5 senior center Walker Weems and 6-foot-5 junior forward Gunter Daniels, Boren has a trio capable of playing off one another as defenses shift to counter whichever one has the ball at a given time.

All three also possess the ability to knock down shots from distance in addition to driving the lane, which Boren said is

part and parcel of modern basketball.

“The game has changed today to the point where there really aren’t the traditional positions of the past,” he said. “For example, Anthony is a hybrid kind of player who isn’t really a post or a guard – he can post up or put the ball on the floor.”

Sierras said his first option is always directly to the rack, but is always conscious of other options that may develop as the play unfolds and it’s also a result of what kind of defense the opposition throws his way.

“Some teams, I’m looking to drive against,” he said. “But, in a zone, I’ll be on the baseline where I can get an easy lay-up or mid-range jump shot or kick it to the outside.”

Sierras and Weems will often react based on what the other one does.

“When Walker gets the ball in the post, I know I have to get open,” said Sierras. “Because he can get above the rim.”

Entering a tournament in New Braunfels last weekend, the Panthers had been riding an eight-game winning streak since a 64-55 road loss to Class 6A Copperas Cove to begin the season and a big part of that

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Liberty Hill senior forward Anthony Sierras (#10) has the ability to drive to the basket or step back for mid-range shots in the Panthers’ offense. run was the Panthers’ ability to Sierras said the defeat in the Panthers will be looking to he’s only concerned with the create scoring chances on fast- season-opener may have been improve upon their third-place ball finding the bottom of the break opportunities in their a result of some jitters out of league result of last season, net, whether or not he’s the last full-court pressure system. the gate. when they posted an 8-5 mark, one to touch it beforehand.

However, it’s always helpful “I think some people were then lost to Dripping Springs “I’m a team-scoring-first kind to have the ability to back de- kind of nervous,” he said. in the opening round of the of person,” he said. “As long fenses down in the half-court “But, since then we’ve been Class 5A state playoffs. as we get our points – if that’s game and either score down doing pretty good.”

Sierras – who is currently the me, fine.” low or pass the ball out to the With the district schedule team’s leading scorer – will be perimeter. right around the bend, the a big part of that push, but said

Page 8

Support

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page 1

year and hopes to continue that tradition in 2022.

Local businesses have also been pitching in all season to help provide meals to the team. Farm to Fork is a recently opened Liberty Hill restaurant that features locally grown and sourced non-GMO and organic foods.

They have been offering all Liberty Hill athletes, not just the football team, $5 boxed meals all school year. Chef Amy Schaffner, who owns the restaurant, said the nominal fee covers the cost of food and packaging for the meals.

“We’re a small business. If I could have done it for nothing, we absolutely would have.

Basically, we did it for cost,” Schaffner said. “We just want to support our community the best way we can. Helping these kids out, that’s what’s most important.”

Schaffner won’t be able to make it to Arlington for the game, but plans to show it on the two TVs in the dining

room at Farm to Fork on Saturday.

“If they want to come in and watch while they eat, we are all on board,” Schaffner said.

Like Schaffner, many in the community are looking at what they can offer to help support the team.

Gerald Lorance purchased a cryotherapy machine in 2016 to help his fellow active duty soldiers work through injuries and fatigue from workouts.

The machine uses liquid nitrogen to create an extremely cold environment that is supposed to help ease muscle tension, rapidly accelerate healing to bruised, swollen or stretched muscles and decrease the effect of delayed onset muscle soreness.

After seeing the success his son Gabriel, a senior wide receiver and defensive back on the team, had with recovery when using cryotherapy, Lorance began to offer drastically reduced sessions to the football players.

Lorance said he usually sets up near CrossFit in Liberty Hill on Mondays and Tuesdays. He said he counts several of the team’s starters as clients.

“We are helping the boys reach their full potential in any way we can, as parents, as community,” he said. “I have two sons in the program, so any way we can help these kids get that added advantage in the recovery process.”

TJ Garza, who owns SKP gym in Liberty Hill, has been training with many on the football team for several years.

He uses customized strength and conditioning and speed and agility programs to help athletes reach their peak performance.

His programs are not just about lifting weights, but adding Pilates to help stretch muscles and build core strength.

Garza also puts a heavy focus on recovery using ice baths, cryotherapy, and massage.

Throughout the playoff run

SALES

to the bid opening.

Sealed Bids will be received at LandDev Consulting, LLC (LDC), 5508 Highway 290 West, Suite 150, Austin, Texas 78735 and then read via telephone conference call. Anyone who want to attend the bid opening must do so by telephone. To join the telephone conference and hear the bids read publicly, call 469-9986043 and enter conference room ID 653372896#.

ALL BIDS ARE DUE PRIOR TO (Local Time) 10:00 A.M. CST on January 21st, 2022 BIDS WILL BE OPENED AT (Local Time) 10:00 A.M. CST on January 21st, 2022 ALL BIDS NOT RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE DATE AND TIME SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR CONSIDERATION. This project includes roadway widening, culvert extension and installation, signing and pavement marking installation, and traffic signal installation for the Butler Farms SH 29 Improvement Project. A portion of the work is located within the Texas Department of Transportation right-of-way way and, therefore, Texas Department of Transportation pre-qualification is a requirement for bid eligibility for this project. The overall project will require acceptance from the Texas Department of Transportation as part of a Donation Agreement between Owner and State.

A NON-MANDATORY prebid conference will be held on January 5, 2022 at 2:00 PM Local Time, via telephone conference call. To join the telephone conference, call 469998-6043 and enter conference room ID 6400357#.

The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is: LandDev Consulting, LLC (LDC), 5508 Highway 290 West, Suite 150, Austin, Texas 78735, Shervin Nooshin, P.E., Team Leader, 512-872-6696, Shervin.

Nooshin@ldcteams.com. Prospective Bidders may obtain copies of the Bidding Documents from the Procurement Website as described below.

Bidding Documents may be viewed and ordered online by registering with the Procurement Website as described at https://www.civcastusa.com/.

Prospective Bidders must register with the Procurement Website as a plan holder, even if the Contract Documents are obtained from a plan room or other website. The documents are made available for the sole purpose of obtaining bids for completion of the project and permission to download does not confer a license or grant permission or authorization for any other use. Authorization to download documents includes the right for Bidders to print documents for their sole use, provided they pay all costs associated with printing or reproduction. Printed documents may not be re-sold under any circumstances.

All official notifications, addenda, and other documents will be offered only through the Procurement Website. The Procurement Website will be updated periodically with Addenda, lists of interested parties, reports, or other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project.

The cost of printed Bidding Documents from the Procurement Website will depend on the number and size of the Drawings and Project Manual, applicable taxes, and shipping method selected by the prospective Bidder. Cost of Bidding Documents and shipping is non-refundable.

Upon Issuing Office’s receipt of payment, printed Bidding Documents will be sent via the prospective Bidder’s delivery method of choice; the shipping charge will depend on the shipping method chosen. The date that the Bidding Documents are transmitted by the Issuing Office will be considered the Bidder’s date of receipt of the Bidding Documents. Partial sets of the Bidding Documents will not be available from the Procurement Website.

Attention is called to meet requirements for Federal, State, and Related Acts, including wage rates, contained in the contract documents, which must be paid on this project. In addition, the successful bidder must ensure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual identity, gender identity, or national origin.

Bid security shall be furnished in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders.

Owner reserves the right to reject any or all Bids and to waive any minor informality in any Bid or solicitation procedure (a minor informality is one that does not affect the competitiveness of the Bid).

Owner: 366 TX 29, LTD on behalf of Texas Department of Transportation By: Mr. Wyatt Henderson Title: Manager Release Date: January 21, 2022 (12/23p)

EVERYTHING MUST GO. Household furniture, bedding, books, TV’s, appliances, computer software, yard equipment, office furniture, and more. 202 W. Myrtle, Liberty Hill (corner of Barton and Myrtle). Dec. 26 noon until 6pm. Dec 27-Jan 5 7am until 6pm.

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EMPLOYMENT PROPANE DELIVERY DRIVER wanted for immediate position. Top Pay with benefits for the right candidate.

Minimum requirements are Class B CDL with HAZMAT/ TANKER ENDORSEMENT. Call 512-923-8595 for more information.

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SERVICES COMPUTER TUTOR At your place, at your pace, I can help you with your computer, iPhone, iPad, or tablet.

Helpful tips and tricks. Reasonable rates. Call Karen, 432553-2468.

(12/23p)

PUBLIC NOTICES MISSING PROPERTY If you believe the police department may have a found item that belongs to you, you can call the Property Division directly at 512-548-5530 or email at ekrause@libertyhilltx.gov. When contacting the Property Division, describe the item(s) you are looking for, in detail, and we will let you know if we have it. If we do, we will make arrangements to get it back to you.

(12/30) BUTLER FARMS SH 29 IMPROVEMENTS, LIBERTY HILL, TX ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS 366 TX 29, LTD on behalf of Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), hereafter called Owner, is soliciting bid proposals for the construction of the following project: BUTLER FARMS SH 29 IMPROVEMENTS, LIBERTY HILL, TX. Bid proposals must be received at the specified issuing office, located at: LandDev Consulting, LLC (LDC), 5508 Highway 290 West, Suite 150, Austin, Texas 78735. Bid proposals must be clearly marked BUTLER FARMS SH 29 IMPROVEMENTS. At the time Bid Documents are obtained, Bidder must provide a working e-mail address, so that they will receive any addenda or clarification issued by the Owner. Any questions regarding the Bid Documents are due at least 48 hours prior

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LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that the City Council of the City of Liberty Hill, Texas proposes to institute VOLUNTARY annexation proceedings to enlarge and extend the boundary limits of said City to include the following described territory, to-wit: Annexation of property as follows: 5.308 ACRES - BEING PART OF THE 21.799 ACRES OF THE J. B. ROBINSON SURVEY, ABSTRACT NO. 521.

IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS, A PART OF LAND CONVEYED TO HOLMES 29, LLC, VIA DOCUMENT NO. 2018105408 OF THE DEED RECORDS OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS. In accordance with Section 43.063, Annexation Hearing Requirements, Texas Local Government Code, a public hearing on the application will be conducted by City Council at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Rd 1869, Liberty Hill, TX 78642

Garza has been helping the team’s star players recover from the punishing games. On Monday, he had three licensed physical therapists at his gym to offer soft and deep tissue massage.

The soft tissue helps the ath-

letes to relax, get the lactic acid out of the legs so they can feel fresh and ready to practice.

“After 15, 16 weeks of playing, you get tired and your muscles are fatigued and your feet are fatigued,” Garza said.

Thursday, December 16, 2021

With full bellies and fully recovered bodies, the football team will leave LHHS on Friday at 8 a.m. The community is invited to support the team by waving banners, flags and cheering them on.

FISHING BRIEFS

Liberty Hill competed in a Faith Angler Network tournament at Lake Travis on Dec. 4 and placed three teams in the top five out of a field of 109 teams.

Kasey Boatright and Ishmael Velazquez were the highest-finishing Panthers with a third-place result after hauling in five bass weighing 9.2 pounds, while Holt Avery and Michael Evans were fourth (five, 8.57) and Andrew Basey and Grant Basey finished fifth (five, 8.03).

Rounding out the top-10 teams for the Panthers were Cade Stratton and Justin Carpenter,

on Wednesday, January 5th, 2022 at 6:00 PM. After the public hearing, City Council will take final action on this matter. For more information, you may either visit the Development Services Department at 100 Forrest Street, call (512) 778-5449, or send an email to planning@libertyhilltx.gov.

By order of the Director of Planning on December 13, 2021.

(12/16) LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Liberty Hill has been asked to review and approve the following application(s), to wit: A request for a Zone Map Amendment from the Multifamily Residential (MF-2) and Agricultural (AG) zoning classification to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning classification on the following property: Being approximately 13.8 acres out of the J. B. Robinson Survey, Abstract No. 521, Williamson County, Texas; generally located northeast of the intersection of Holmes Road and State Highway 29, and identified as portions of Assessor’s Parcel Numbers R-432454 and R-022833.

In accordance with Section 211.006, Texas Local Government Code, a public hearing on this application will be conducted by the Planning and Zoning Commission at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, Texas on Tuesday, January 4th, 2022 at 6:30 PM. Upon receiving a recommendation from the Commission, the City Council will conduct its own public hearing and take final action on this matter on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 6:00 PM at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, Texas. For more information, you may either visit the Development Services Department at 100 Forrest Street, call (512) 7785449, or send an email to planning@libertyhilltx.gov.

By order of the Development Services Administrative Assistant on December 13, 2021.

(12/16) LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Liberty Hill has been asked to review and approve the following application(s), to wit: A request for a Zone Map Amendment from the General Commercial/Retail (C3) zoning classification to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning classification on the following property: Being approximately 14.915 acres out of the T. P. Plaster Survey, Abstract No. 510, locally addressed as 14365 Highway 29 W, and approximately 19.9527 acres out of the R. G. Millican Survey, Abstract No. 448, Williamson County, Texas, and identified as Assessor’s Parcel Numbers R-431451 and R-022765.

In accordance with Section 211.006, Texas Local Government Code, a public hearing on this application will be conducted by the Planning and Zoning Commission at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, Texas on Tuesday, January 4th, 2022 at 6:30 PM. Upon receiving

Kasey Boatwright and Ishmael Velazquez finished third at the Faith Angler Network event at Lake Travis on Dec. 4, hauling in five bass weighing 9.2 pounds. (Courtesy Photo) who caught five bass at 7.70

pounds.

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NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.COM a recommendation from the Commission, the City Council will conduct its own public hearing and take final action on this matter on Wednesday, January 26th, 2022 at 6:00 PM at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, Texas. For more information, you may either visit the Development Services Department at 100 Forrest Street, call (512) 7785449, or send an email to planning@libertyhilltx.gov.

By order of the Development Services Administrative Assistant on December 13, 2021.

(12/16) REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATE The City of Liberty Hill, Texas, a Type A General Law city, is requesting proposals for qualified planning consultants to prepare an update to our Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Code (UDC). Liberty Hill’s focus is to establish clear, responsible development regulations with appropriate design criteria that will provide opportunities for innovative and creative approaches to development while supporting an economically viable and sustainable community.

The Comprehensive Plan Update will include at minimum: review and analysis of the current Comprehensive Plan, data collection and analysis, citizen participation, goals and objectives, future land use, zoning designation amendments as well as preservation of open space and parks and recreational planning or other elements as identified by the Planning & Zoning Commission and approved by the City Council. Scopes should include the development of a full Comprehensive Plan with all required appendices, but the selected consultant should expect that not all optional portions of the Comprehensive Plan may be given the notice to proceed.

The City of Liberty Hill desires to produce development regulations that: address contemporary development and zoning practices; are easily understood by administrators, the public and the development community; and, support the goals and policies of the Liberty Hill Comprehensive Plan and other related longrange planning policy documents.

The UDC will address topics related to general provisions, review authority & procedures, applications & permits, subdivision, zoning district & use regulations, site development & design standards, environmental protection, signs, compliance & enforcement.

Alternative processes to mitigate Shot Clock requirements will also be required.

Areas of key concern to be incorporated into the UDC include, but are not limited to, the following: • Updates to the City of Liberty Hill Subdivision Ordinance

and incorporating those updates into the UDC • Updates to the City of Liberty Hill Zoning Ordinance and incorporating those updates into the UDC • Reviewing existing regulations and recommending new regulations that provide a means of implementing the policies & goals of the Liberty Hill Comprehensive Plan and other related long-range planning policy documents • Reviewing existing regulations and recommending new regulations that address market trends, incorporate best practices and address contextual issues throughout the City • Removing or amending outdated or inappropriate standards • Removing redundancies and conflicts • Creating clear definitions and terminology • Providing graphics and illustrations to supplement, replace and/or clarify written regulations • Crafting regulations that provide for effective administrative enforcement Statements of Qualifications will be received until 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday February 1, 2022. SOQ’s will be received via email or fileshare to Lacie Hale lhale@libertyhilltx.gov Physical copies are not desired, but should they need to be sent, they may be delivered to the office of the City Administrator, 926 Loop 332, Liberty Hill, Texas 78642 and must be received by the above deadline.

Details of the RFQ may be secured from the city website www.libertyhilltx.gov or requested by emailing lhale@ libertyhilltx.gov The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals and to accept only those proposals which are in the best interest of the City of Liberty Hill.

(12/23) BARTLETT COCKE GENERAL CONTRACTORS, Construction Manager-at-Risk, for: LHISD Santa Rita MS Expansion - BP1, is requesting competitive proposals from subcontractors and suppliers.

Subcontractor and supplier proposals will be received via Fax to (512) 326-4339 or (512) 326-3990 Fax or via email to bidaus@bartlettcocke.com no later than 2:00:00 PM on 1/5/2022. Any proposals received after this time will not be accepted.

Electronic copies of the proposal documents may be obtained from Bartlett Cocke or viewed at local and online planrooms. Contact Stephon Hill via email shill@bartlettcocke.com or phone (512) 326-4223 Phone to make arrangements.

Small, Woman Owned, Disadvantaged, HUB, HUBZone, 8(a), Minority, and all similar firms are encouraged to submit proposals on this project. Bartlett Cocke General Contractors is an equal opportunity (EEO) employer.

(12/23)

Thursday, December 16, 2021

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

KRISTEN MERIWETHER PHOTO

Liberty Hill elementary students donated stuff animals to the Williamson County Brown Santa program Dec. 10.

Page 9

Christmas Festival transforms downtown

STACY COALE PHOTO

Festival-goers of all ages enjoyed the snow field at the Liberty Hill Christmas Festival Saturday.

Students deliver stuffed animals for Williamson County Brown Santa

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer GEORGETOWN -- Two buses full of Liberty Hill ISD students dropped off stuffed animals and books to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office on Friday. The donations were made to help support the Brown Santa program, which provides Christmas gifts for children of families in need.

Wearing festive Christmas attire and purple and gold to support the football team’s playoff run, the students helped load the toys and books into bins.

Braving the blustery wind, Santa watched and waved as the students filled bin after bin and loaded it into cars for delivery.

“Williamson County Brown Santa is extremely grateful to once again receive the generous donations of teddy bears and books from Liberty Hill ISD children,” said Chief James Carmona, President of Board.

With a special escort from Williamson County Sheriff’s officers, the students began the Teddy Bear parade around the historic Williamson County Courthouse. With Santa in tow, the students gathered around the Christmas tree in the foyer and filled the halls with a few holiday carols before bringing the parade back to the Sheriff’s

Office.

“The Teddy Bear parade is a highlight of our holiday season,” Chief Carmona said.

“Brown Santa could not assist all of the families who have applied without this special partnership with Liberty Hill ISD.” Each LHISD elementary campus collected donations and then selected one boy and one girl from each grade to make the special trip to deliver the toys. Students were selected

based on class participation, how kind and respectful they were to other students and how they displayed the values of LHISD students.

“It’s an opportunity to deliver toys to those who don’t get anything for Christmas,” Liberty Hill Elementary PE Coach Haylee Giffels said after the event. “This is my first year doing it and it’s exciting. I love the Christmas spirit, and the kids loved it this year.”

May the Spirit of Christmas fill your home with peace, love and joy.

Adrienne Hughes

Cheryl Stephens

512-810-0185

512-417-0026

Broker/Owner

Realtor ®, GRI, MRP

3106 Ranch Road 1869 | Liberty Hill, TX 78642 | www.Hughes-and-Company.com

Page 10

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Council discusses how to spend ARPA funds

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

GO PANTHERS! Fans cheered on the Panthers in Bryan last Friday, and are expected to make the trek to Arlington Sat-

urday for the State championship game. For tickets, https://seatgeek.com/2021-uil-state-championships-5a-dii-6a-di-6a-dii-tickets/ football/2021-12-18-11-am/5547629

HOMES AROUND THE HILL

Durham Park 2 Homes/Guest House - 4.95 acres Miller Creek Turner Estates Turner Estates Turner Estates Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Amifast Ind Park Amifast Ind Park Amifast Ind Park Amifast Ind Park Amifast Ind Park Amifast Ind Park Luciano Cabasos - .41 acres Kempner Ranch - 40 acres Liberty Parke Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Liberty Hill - 76 acres Cloudwood Ranch Lot - Briggs Mesa Vista Ranch Highland Lake Estates - Lago Vista Hornsby, J - 4.6 acres Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Flores Mesa Vista Ranch Marble Falls Florence Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Home + In-Law House, No HOA - 10 acres Grayson, Leander Sunset Oaks - 3 acres Hidden Meadows - 2 acres Bertram - 10 acres Watson Place, Bertram - 5 acres Liberty Hill - 17 acres Luciano Cabasos Durham Park Florence Buttercup Townhomes Hillcrest Cantarra Meadows/Pflugerville Llano Iron Oak - 2 acres Summerlynn - Leander Near Downtown Liberty Hill University Park - Georgetown San Gabriel River - 3/4 acres Cloudwood Ranch Lot - Briggs Liberty Hill - 2.2 acres

Homes for Sale 3BR/2BA 4BR/4BA Acreage / Lots / Property for Sale 1303 CR 255 Fully fence, power, 30x40 workshop 1611 CR 255 AW0478 Northcross, J. Sur 1619 CR 255 AW0478 Northcross, J. Sur 1633 CR 255 AW0478 Northcross, J. Sur TBD Lobella Bloom Bend Lot 91, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 71, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 74, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 75, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 79, Block 1 Phase III TBD Red Yucca Ct Lot 85, Block 1 Phase III TBD Red Yucca Ct Lot 87, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 72, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 73, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 76, Block 1 Phase III TBD Red Yucca Ct Lot 88, Block 1 Phase III Commercial Property for Sale 100 Bevers No restrictions, water available 110 Bevers No restrictions, water available 118 Bevers No restrictions, water available 126 Bevers No restrictions, water available 129 Bevers No restrictions, water available 145 Bevers No restrictions, water available Under Contract / Pending

800 Double File Trace 1601 CR 256

550 Hopewell Rd 820 Panther Creek 637 Independence Ave TBD Red Yucca Ct TBD Lobella Bloom Bend TBD Red Yucca Ct 4060 CR 201 Lot 12 Cloudwood Ranch Rd TBD Yellow Senna Pl 20701 Harrison Cv 1840 CR 226 TBD Yellow Senna Pl TBD Yellow Senna Pl TBD Yellow Senna Pl TBD Red Yucca Ct 550 Stadium Dr TBD Red Yucca Ct 337 Granite Row Tract 3A N Hwy 195 TBD Yellow Senna Pl TBD Yellow Senna Pl TBD Yellow Senna Pl 2150 CR 282 144 Syrah Court 631 CR 269 1103 CR 204 CR 321 240 Floyds Run 17600 W State Hwy 29 1540 W Hwy 29 500 CR 288 Tract 4B N Hwy 195 401 Buttercup Creek Blvd 120 Crestview Dr 13500 Kearns Dr 504 E Green St 232 Oak Hill 104 Falcon Lane 3103 CR 1869 2006 E 18th St 121 River Rd Lot 22 Cloudwood Ranch Rd 140 Shin Oak Lane

3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA Lot 89, Block 1 Phase III Lot 24, Block 1 Phase III Lot 83, Block 1 Phase III 3BR/2B - Barndominium & Shop Lots of trees Lot 80, Block 1 Phase III Electricity & water available 4BR/2BA Lot 92, Block 1 Phase III Lot 81, Block 1 Phase III Lot 82, Block 1 Phase III Lot 90, Block 1 Phase III Cleared & level Sold!

Lot 84, Block 1 Phase III 3BR/2BA No restrictions, Ag exempt Lot 77, Block 1 Phase III Lot 78, Block 1 Phase III Lot 70, Block 1 Phase III 2BR/3BA + 3BR/1BA - Pool 3BR/2.5BA 3BR/3BA 3BR/2BA River front & trees 4BR/3BA 3 Homes & Barn 2BR/1BA Trees, electric, water No restrictions, Ag exempt 2BR/2.5BA 3BR/2BA 4BR/2BA - Game Room 3BR/2BA 4BR/4BA 4BR/2.5BA - 2 car garage Commercial, Mixed Use 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA Lots of oaks, backs to creek 3BR/2BA + pool

$ 535,000 1708 sq ft $ 995,000 3112 sq ft

Adrienne Hughes Cheryl Stephens

$ 500,000 14.75 acres

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

202,000 203,000 212,000 275,000 229,000 285,000 404,000 219,000 210,000 418,000 248,000

2.02 acres 2.03 acres 2.12 acres 2.75 acres 2.29 acres 2.85 acres 4.04 acres 2.19 acres 2.10 acres 4.18 acres 2.48 acres

Dax Oglesby Cheryl Stephens Cheryl Stephens Cheryl Stephens Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise

$ $ $ $ $ $

550,000 460,000 365,000 275,000 980,000 680,000

1.05 acres 1.04 acres 1.04 acres 1.05 acres 4.49 acres 3.110 acres

Shane T. White Shane T. White Shane T. White Shane T. White Shane T. White Shane T. White

$ 199,900 2.15 acres $ 199,900 2.25 acres $ 235,000 2.75 acres

$ 195,000 1389 sq ft

Shane T. White

$ 367,000 1521 sq ft

Shane T. White

$1,200,000 4483 sq ft $ 202,000 2.02 acres $ 204,000 2.04 acres $ 201,000 2.01 acres $1,999,000 1624 sq ft

$ 255,000 7.74 acres $ 201,000 2.01 acres $

60,000 .394 acres

Cheryl Stephens Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise

Cheryl Stephens Tammy Wise

Dax Oglesby Shane T. White 2.07 acres Tammy Wise 2.01 acres Tammy Wise 2.01 acres Tammy Wise 2.04 acres Tammy Wise 1.337 acre Side-Pad Shane T. White

$ 379,000 2432 sq ft $ 207,000 $ 201,000 $ 201,000 $ 204,000

$ 750,000

$ 201,000 2.01 acres

Tammy Wise

$ 338,168 11.3 acres

Dax Oglesby

$ 379,009 1913 sq ft

$ 237,000 2.37 acres $ 217,000 2.17 acres $ 203,000 2.03 acres

$ 970,000 3353 total sq ft $ 375,000 1482 sq ft $ 500,000 2984 sq ft $ 450,000 1641 sq ft $ 425,000 10 acres

$ 810,000 3118 sq ft

$1,600,000 1800 sq ft $ 250,000 1180 sq ft

$ 225,000 2.19 acres $ 564,300 20.9 acres $ 275,000 1280 sq ft $ 235,000 1568 sq ft $ 420,000 2507 sq ft $ 200,000 1671 sq ft $ 765,000 2800 sq ft $ 350,000 2044 sq ft $ 350,000 968 sq ft

$ 315,000 1404 sq ft $ 230,000 1440 sq ft

$ 197,500 4.25 acres $ 430,000 1611 sq ft

Dax Oglesby Tammy Wise Tammy Wise

Tammy Wise Sabrina Jordan Adrienne Hughes Shane T. White Shane T. White Shane T. White Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Shane T. White Shane T. White Dax Oglesby Shane T. White Shane T. White Cheryl Stephens Sabrina Jordan Dax Oglesby Dax Oglesby Dax Oglesby Dax Oglesby Cheryl Stephens Cheryl Stephens Dax Oglesby

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer Improving walkability downtown was the top choice among Council members when it came to discussing the City’s more than $726,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Judy Langford, of Langford Community Management Services, managed a discussion among the Council at a Dec. 8 workshop about various projects the City could complete with funds received from ARPA, which was signed into law earlier this year to provide additional relief to address the continued impact of COVID-19 on the economy, including local governments.

The City received $726,260.62, of which the first half has already been obtained.

The second half will be received in late 2022. Langford said the City must have the funds committed by December 2024 and expended by December 2026.

“Water, sewer and broadband are automatically considered viable projects or projects that are approved with these funds,” she added. “The other one is anything COVID-related and that’s a lot grayer. There’s a lot of things you can do with it, as long as the projects have a tie back to COVID.” Council member Angela Jones said she thinks the money should be used to invest in the walkability of downtown, because not only will it promote tourism, but it will also increase access to downtown businesses.

“What I want to do is talk about expanding the shared use path all the way down [Loop 332,]” she said. “I think it should go down the Loop toward Main Street Social and then down to County Road 279. I also think it should go down RR 1869 headed West toward Agape BBQ and then link up to the sidewalks on RR 1869 in the other direction.”

Council member Tony DeYoung suggested using some of the monies to provide small business grants to busi-

nesses that were affected most during the pandemic. Jones added that while she likes that idea, she felt increasing the walkability could “hit two birds with one stone” by making it easier for customers to visit those businesses.

“We would really be doing these businesses a service by building the sidewalks so that people can access their businesses,” she said. “It’s not safe because of parking issues and getting to the different facilities right now.”

Council member Chris Pezold added that local organizations, like Hope House and The Village, a daycare for adults with disabilities, could also use better ways to get around Liberty Hill.

“I think it’s a travesty that we have our most vulnerable citizens being pushed in wheelchairs where there’s no sidewalks and there’s no shade,” he said. “We’ve got the adult daycare walking laps back and forth in the parking lot of what’s essentially the VFW building.”

Langford said because this plan allows for people to get outdoors and walk, it can be put under the COVID-related category.

“While I don’t believe you have enough money to do all of those sidewalks and paths—it’s going to be quite expensive—it’s a good place to start,” she added. “It’s exciting to hear you thinking these things through because it’s awfully hard to get sidewalks in after a city has experienced major growth. I know the growth is here, but you’re thinking it through and it’s a priority for the Council, which is good to see because once the downtown [district] is built up, sidewalks will be much harder to get into place.”

Langford added that she will compile the ideas from the workshop into a document, including estimated project costs, for the Council to continue to discuss the best way to move forward.

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