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2021
Volume 34, Issue 28
www.LHIndependent.com
News@LHIndependent.com
June 3, 2021 | 50 Cents
Weather fails to dampen Panther spirit on graduation night
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor In a year when they were faced with obstacles no other senior class had ever encountered, it was only fitting Liberty Hill High School’s Class of 2021 Commencement was forced indoors after severe thunderstorms blew through town in the hours leading up to the event. However, the fact the festivities took place in the confines of the gym as opposed to the spacious climes of Panther Stadium did little to dampen the atmosphere within the walls of the building to match the conditions outside. In fact, the close quarters only added to the event, said Liberty Hill ISD superintendent Steve Snell. “I think it actually provided a more intimate setting,” said Snell. “Being up closer, you can see the joy on the faces of
See GRADS, Page 7
LHISD educators look forward to fresh start
ALEX RUBIO PHOTO
Excitement for new beginnings was evident on the faces of 308 graduating seniors who participated in the commencement ceremony at Liberty Hill High School May 28. The event was forced indoors due to inclement weather.
Changing Grange
Couple turning dilapidated houses into new business in downtown Liberty Hill
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of stories following the process of building a business from the ground up in Liberty Hill. By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer Amy and Mike Gandy know a thing or two—or a thousand—about what it takes to completely gut and remodel a home. They’ve done it four times, including the Liberty Hill home where they have resided since moving from Austin in 2016. When the opportunity came to buy another fixer upper, right in the heart of downtown Liberty Hill on Grange Street, the Gandys knew they couldn’t pass up the chance to at least make an offer. With her background as a real estate agent and broker, Gandy has always
had an eye and a love for historical homes. “I’ve always had this search set for homes built from 1800 to 1930, and I just look for those all the time to see if there are deals,” she said. “Sometimes I find them, but they’re too far away to manage. When this home on 109 Grange popped up and the price was amazing, I knew I had to go see it. It’s right downtown, and even just for the land, which is a quarter of an acre, it was worth it.” Amy Gandy went to see the property—built in 1900—and realized it was a total disaster, with wood rot everywhere and the ceiling falling in. But the property already had seven other offers and the deadline was the next day.
By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer A year ago at this time, no one knew what impact the COVID-19 pandemic would have on the world, let alone how it would change the school year for students, teachers and administrators alike across the Liberty Hill Independent School District. Now that the school year is over, district and campus leaders are breathing a sigh of relief -- and anticipating a much smoother start to the next school year. LHISD Superintendent Steve Snell said because school ended so early in the 2019-20 year -- right after spring break -- the students were starting this school year after a five-month hiatus. “Normally you see a slide in learning over the summer, and then we realized it had been five months since kids had been in school,” he said. “One great thing is that across the country schools were staying closed and teachers were refusing to come back to school, yet in Liberty Hill our teachers were begging to come back. They wanted us to do whatever it took to get the kids back in front of them, and the parents and community wanted our schools open, too. We had task forces that worked last summer to figure out how we could open safely, and we did a fantastic job of that.” Snell said as the school year went on, the district had many ups and down, including a lot of quarantines for various classes and grades. “As the state and county went with cases, so did LHISD,” he said. “We saw a spike around November and December, but as we got into spring we figured it out and hit our stride. After spring break as the numbers went down, students were able to take their masks off, and then teachers were able to take
Amy and Mike Gandy of Liberty Hill are changing the landscape downtown as they renovate two
See GANDY, Page 4 old homes at 109 and 111 Grange Street built in the early 1900s. (Courtesy Photo)
See RETURN, Page 5
Liberty Hill graduating seniors earn nursing, pharmacy technician certifications
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Kalley Klinksiek’s nursing practicum class is a small group of eight students. Relying on each other throughout the year, the group worked hard to prepare for their nursing certification exam. Their work paid off, with each student walking away as a certified nursing assistant. “We feel productive. Now we can move forward and use this for future plans,” said Ashleigh Dubbs. “Even with not going to the nursing homes this year, I think we all did pretty good overcoming the obstacles.” Interacting with the classroom, the dynamic of Klinksiek’s class comes across almost like a real-life take on “The Breakfast Club”. A group of students from different circles ©2021 The Liberty Hill Independent
LHHS nursing and pharmacy tech students include Olivia Shelton, Bret Yarborough, Alexis Andreasen, Esmeralda Munoz, Hanna Turman, Ashleigh Dubbs, John De La Cruz, Lillianna Wilkins, Piper Tabor, Ryley Tanner, Abbey Janicek, Kat Burden, McKenzie Garner, Elizabeth Chong, Sara Hesskew, Taylor Swieczkowski, Ember Alvarado, Gabrielle Blackmon, Makayla Herrington, Hira Umer, Libbie Faria, Jared Dumas, Isaiah De La Garza, Victoria Pencheva, Kylie Goodrow, Delaney Foster, Madison Fuller and Mynia Farnsley. finding common ground and also a football player in here. “We got so close with each eventual friendship. I don’t talk to anyone here. other that it got to where we “I remember the first day of After a few weeks, we started would just look at each othclass. I wasn’t close with any- opening up and laughing all er and burst out laughing for one,” said Alexis Andreasen. the time.” almost no reason at all,” said “When I saw them, I was As the year progressed, the Andreasen. like ‘Oh my god, barbies’. group’s comfort level continSee NURSING, Page 5 I thought to myself, there’s ued to grow.
Memorial Day tribute
Members of Boy Scout Troop 196 and Cub Scout Pack 196 of Liberty Hill replaced worn flags on the graves of veterans at the Liberty Hill Cemetery for Memorial Day. Both Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts promise to do their duty to God and country as part of their scout oaths. Honoring American veterans is a way to do that. It was also a promise kept to the troop and pack’s former chartered organization, the Liberty Hill VFW, which began the service. The scouts promised to continue the service after the LH VFW disbanded several years ago. (Courtesy Photo)