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2020

Volume 33, Issue 34

www.LHIndependent.com

Campbell target of blame in ride-along issue

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Speaking from the podium during the public comments portion of the Monday Liberty Hill City Council meeting, Council member Kathy Canady became the first to address the issues brought forward last week regarding Mayor Rick Hall’s actions during a ride along in 2018.

Hall and the rest of the Council has chosen to remain silent on the issue since allegations were first made public in March, but Canady implied in her comments Monday that the fault for any mistakes made during the ride along fell on former police chief Maverick Campbell.

“I would like to say in light of a recent Independent story slash article, I want to point out yet again, while on his watch of our community, it is not so much that our ride

along individuals did something wrong, it is that our previous police chief Maverick Campbell again allowed something he knew was an infraction of the law happen without communicating and educating those he encouraged to participate in the particular event,” Canady said.

At issue was police body camera footage from Officer Jeff Farmer that showed Hall operating the in-vehicle computer system during a pursuit while Hall was on a ride along. (See Story, Page 5) Both the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and Texas Department of Public Safety have addressed the issue, saying that the computers and systems on board are highly regulated and should not be accessed by unauthorized personnel, and such an infraction can be a criminal

For the second time in as many elections, the Democratic nomination for U.S. House District 31 required a runoff. This time Donna Imam won out over Christine Mann with 56.6 percent of the vote.

Imam will next face incumbent Republican John Carter who is seeking his 10th term.

For Mann, it was her second loss in a runoff, falling in 2018 to MJ Hegar who went on to earn more votes in Williamson County than Carter in the general election, but fell districtwide by 3 percent.

Imam – who lives in Northwest Austin and has never run for office – believes voters will respond to her approach

she said offers solutions rather than focus on political party.

“When we talk to Republicans, Independents and moderates, and we talk to them in a language they understand, and there’s no doubt in most people’s minds – Republicans that I’ve come across – that John Carter has not delivered in the last nine terms and it is time for him to go and time for representation with solutions, and that’s what we’re offering,” she said of the upcoming November race.

In the race for the U.S. Senate nomination, MJ Hegar defeated Royce West in Texas

See COUNCIL, Page 6

Imam, Hegar win Dems’ nominations

See ELECTION, Page 4

WCESD #4 adjusting, planning for future

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The challenge to first responders has increased with the hazards of COVID-19, and Williamson County ESD #4 – the fire department in Liberty Hill – has made plenty of adjustments over the past four months.

Fire Chief Anthony Lincoln said the department is responding to a COVID-19 related call about once every two or three days.

“Liberty Hill is getting hammered pretty hard right now looking at the daily stuff,” he said. “It may be like that everywhere in the county, but I get stuff all the time and it’s not over, I can tell you that.”

Through the first few months, ©2020 The Liberty Hill Independent

that included area business closures and the school closure, Lincoln said call volume went down slightly, but only in one primary area.

“The only thing we saw a decrease in was motor vehicle accidents,” he said. “It was noticeable there weren’t many people on the road and that’s where our decrease came from.”

Call volume remained fairly steady, at 158 in February, 167 in March, 153 in April, and up again to 196 in May. Even with the increased risk, Lincoln said his department has avoided any positive COVID-19 tests.

“We’ve dodged a bullet and haven’t had anybody sick,” he said. “We’ve had people exposed. We get them to testing, give it incubation time and we tell them not to come to work. There are a few fire departments around

News@LHIndependent.com

Swim Center back on drawing board

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor There has been little movement on the Swim Center planned for City Park since a groundbreaking ceremony in June 2019, but the long-awaited pool was back on the City Council agenda Monday, facing a number of changes over recently-raised budget constraints.

Mayor Rick Hall had two options available for consideration – the one approved in 2019 and a new proposal – for consideration, but Council member Kathy Canady opened the discussion by asking that it be tabled so the Parks Board could be brought back to discuss the issue.

“I’d like to see us table this until we can have some discussion with, or maybe a workshop with, the Parks Board,” said Canady as the discussion of the two options on the agenda began. “I really feel like we need their input as well because The swim center proposal approved by the City Council in early 2019 included a splash pad, zero-entry pool and two swim lanes, but questions have been raised over its price and whether it’s our Parks Board.”

The Council agreed, and de- funds are available now for the project. (Courtesy Graphic) cided to bring the Parks Board plan was the increase in the explanation was given Mon- tal on this design has morphed members to the July 27 Coun- projected price of the most day on how the estimate in- into almost a $2.2 million projcil meeting to participate in the recently approved design. The creased more than $800,000, ect and we still haven’t gotten discussion. current plan, approved in the and requests for an interview verification yet that the grant The project, that according to spring of 2019, was estimated with Hall on the issue was met has been approved for this former Council members and by Halff Associates – the de- with no response by press time project.” city staff, had the funds ear- signers of the pool – at $1.35 Wednesday evening.

What’s not clear is whethmarked for completion, is now million, which included the “There’s a pretty huge differ- er the original price of $1.2 being looked at as a project zero-entry pool, two swim ence in price,” Hall said. “This million was after the Texas that may be too costly. Finance lanes and a splash pad. was brought about a year and Parks and Wildlife Grant of Director Becky Wilkins said But according to numbers a half or two years ago when $500,000 was figured into the Monday the funds may not be shared with the Council Mon- we went through to apply for cost or before. The new estiavailable for the project at the day, Hall said the plan’s pro- the grant for that project. Ini- mate of $2.19 million is before new price tag. jected cost was now at $2.19 tially when that project was the grant is applied to the final Dramatic price change? million, an estimate also pro- submitted with the grant was a The most glaring change in the vided by Halff Associates. No million-dollar project. The toSee POOL, Page 3

A testing experience

Editor’s Note: The following is a first-person account of a reporter’s experience being tested for COVID-19.

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Having a cotton swab pushed deep into the nasal cavity to where it feels as though it’s poking the brain is a cumbersome and intimidating concept for almost anyone.

When the light bulb first went off in my head to get tested for COVID-19 and share my experience with readers, I was admittedly nervous – for several reasons. Is this test going to hurt? Is it going to cost and is it going to be expensive? Most importantly, what does it mean for me if I test positive?

These are questions that people around the country are asking themselves all the time these days. Part of me thought that yes, I should get tested just in case, and another part of me felt as though there was simply no way that I would get COVID. This idea is another that many people I talk to and see on social media believe.

While it is absolutely a pandemic, so many of us don’t have a personal experience with this virus. If I’m honest, it wasn’t until members of my family and friends around Texas tested positive and

See WCESD, Page 6

See TESTING, Page 6

60% off

ANTHONY FLORES PHOTO

Williamson County’s free testing sites use the saliva method for testing, each individual self-tests and is given a kit with a swab and test tube for the sample.

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Thursday, July 16, 2020

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 3

The reason we have open government laws is Hill Police Blotter because politicians always get too big for their britches Liberty Prepared by Liberty Hill Police Department

By WILT CUTTER Columnist Kids, here’s a government class that is brief, free and completely nonpartisan.

Secret government never works, it’s the most un-American thing there is. Secret government brings abuse because it’s run by humans who were elected by other humans to REPRESENT them. Representation cannot happen in secret. So, open, transparent government is the only way a democracy can work.

Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin don’t have to worry about such things since they have brainwashed armies, secret police and nuclear weapons. However, in Liberty Hill letting the public know everything should be a source of pride.

For example, whether you see it as an absolute fact written by God or a beautiful allegory, a teaching parable or a semi-entertaining fable, the Garden of Eden is a great example of humans in their natural state. We were peaceful creatures, fragile little beings in need of care.

God made us so he felt responsible. So he set up the perfect place. Everything we needed was provided. We didn’t even have to ask. God was right there with us and spoke to us in the evenings when he got home from work. We didn’t have to wonder what he thought, what he wanted us to do…it was all right there. No questions unanswered.

But, as everyone knows, the sojourn in the Garden of Eden ended in the first great human tragedy. Adam and Eve voted against the only pure utopian government and got sent packing. They discovered they’d been walking around

naked. And then they found the U-Haul parked out front already loaded with a lifetime supply of fig leaves. Since that moment in time, humans have been messing around all over this earth trying to create a cheap substitute to eternal love, total safety, justice and mercy and just the right amount of taxes. It’s called government.

Government does not include hiding things for 127 days, requiring a secret sesame code for obtaining normal elements of government like say, budgets.

Hey! Citizens aren’t on a need to know basis from politicians who are voting to extend their own terms and raise their own pay. That taxpayer money you’ve been spending on cool toys isn’t yours. It belongs to the citizens and they have a right to know how you spent it.

You are supposed to be working for them.

Local folks shouldn’t have to hear rumors that the company that got paid buckets of money to build the kiddie splash pad was paid in advance of the safety inspections. That’s our taxpayer money and it’s our kids out there splashing.

Open government isn’t some kind of liberal slogan. It means the money, actions and the result of how those things are managed are the property of the public. Secret government means you are stealing the information away from those who have every right to know it. Just like it’s illegal to change or alter government documents, its also illegal to withhold it. What are you hiding?

Since it’s never too late to repent and change your ways… how about releasing all information requested today. Right now. All of it. Since the information wasn’t yours in the first place.

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer GEORGETOWN -- As Williamson County gets ready to release its recommended budget for 2021 this month and vote on the final budget in August, the big question is: What role does the COVID-19 pandemic play in the process?

Preparation for the county budget begins in February when the budget office meets with county commissioners for direction and guidance.

“At that point, it was business as usual. We talked about different issues like new positions, compensation increases, healthcare increases and we left that meeting with direction,” said County Budget Officer Ashlie Koenig. “What the court did later was put an item on the agenda when COVID hit and said they wanted to revisit things. At that point, they directed the budget office not to recommend any new positions or new programs.”

Because uncertainties with COVID-19 and its impact on revenue for 2021, county commissioners are pushing departments to be conservative in their proposals.

“Our instruction to those that are putting together their budgets needed to take a very cautious and conservative approach to what they were submitting,” said Pct. 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long. “It would be doubtful that we will increase staff or programs going forward into next year.

There are way too many unknowns at this point as to what the impact would be on county revenues going forward.”

Long expects to see the proper impact of COVID-19 once property taxes are collected in January 2021.

“A vast majority of county revenue comes from property taxes, and those taxes are usually collected by January at the latest every year,” she said.

“So, we really won’t see the

impacts until mid-next year of whether COVID had an impact on the values on people’s residences or businesses.”

While property taxes make up the most substantial chunk, the county revenue is also made up of court fines and fees.

“You’re looking at a wide array of revenue. So, you’re looking at property taxes and fines and fees, which have come down drastically,” Koenig said. “The other portion of revenue is investment income, revenue received from investments. COVID could impact all of these numbers. We need to be as conservative as possible until we know the impact.”

One of the most significant changes Koenig said will need to be continually addressed heading into next year is the increased need for technology.

“What I’m seeing is we’re looking at a lot of technology needs that are different than they’ve looked in the past because we have people working

from home,” she said. “The biggest asks are going to be in the area of technology. IT is working hard right now to put together some lists of needs.”

Despite the pandemic, the budget is on the same track as it usually would be. The budget office is determined to remain on schedule.

“There haven’t been any setbacks. When the court revisited their directives for our office, they made it very clear that they didn’t want any hiccups,” said Koenig.

The total budget for 2020 was $393,843,886. The goal for the budget office is to match that number or get under it if possible. Once the proposed budget is released on July 23, there will be a series of workshops to discuss and adjust the recommended budgets for the County Commissioners’ final vote in August.

got the shade structure, it’s got the kiddie pool off to the side.

This is why I want the Council to consider this.”

Council hesitation Despite agreement that discussions should take place with members of the Parks Board, Council member Tony

DeYoung called it a “heavy price tag and a large project” to take on now. Council member Gram Lankford also shared his reservations.

“I don’t feel like it’s a good time to spend that kind of money on a project like this,” said

COVID creates cautious approach to Williamson County budget

POOL

Continued from Page 1

The next option Hall’s suggested alternative resembled a plan he proposed back in October, which the Council rejected at that time.

He emphasized this time the shrinking of the building in the project, and simplifying some other parts.

“The building design is, and this is a comment from the engineer, the building design is way too large as far as the equipment space room, the chemical space room. He said you’ll probably use 25-30 percent of that for the pumps and equipment for the pool, so there’s a lot of additional cost in that.”

He said the simpler proposal made it more affordable.

“This design is more typical

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of what municipalities do,” Hall said of the new proposal. “It’s just a square rectangle pool, and again, like with the other design it was shaped, it wasn’t square lines, so that also had increased price for the pool.”

The second plan includes a smaller building, no zero entry, and replacing the splash pad with a kiddie pool.

The new plan is proposed at just over $1.5 million based on projections from Halff Associates.

“We’re talking about a $700,000 difference in the project,” Hall said. “But this would still give us the pool the community is wanting. It would give us the appropriate-sized building we need, it’s

Week of July 6-12, 2020 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 490 incidents resulting in 13 cases, 44 citations, 98 warnings and four arrests.

Weekly Highlights: - On July 6 at approximately 9:11 AM, officers responded the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident.

- On July 6 at approximately 4:29 PM, officers responded to Presidential Path for a traffic hazard.

- On July 6 at approximately 10:13 PM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for a suspicious incident.

- On July 6 at approximately 10:31 PM, officers responded to Agave Azul Way for a suspicious incident.

- On July 7 at approximately 4:23 AM, officers arrested a male adult with outstanding warrants as the result of a traffic stop at the 1000 block of Loop 332.

- On July 7 at approximately 8:27 AM, officers responded to CR 200 for a mental issue.

- On July 7 at approximately 12:27 PM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for a possible commercial vehicle fire.

- On July 7 at approximately 12:34 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for a disturbance.

- On July 8 at approximately 1:58AM, officers responded to the 2000 block of CR 279 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On July 8 at approximately

4:16 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for a theft in progress resulting in an arrest.

- On July 8 at approximately 11:12 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for suspicious activity.

- On July 9 at approximately 2:03 AM, officers responded to the 11000 block of W. SH 29, for suspicious activity.

- On July 9 at approximately 12:18 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for suspicious activity.

- On July 10 at approximately 12:32AM, officers arrested a male adult for driving while intoxicated, as the result of a traffic stop on US 183.

- On July 10 at approximately 6:00 AM, officers responded to Hillcrest Lane for a vehicle burglary.

- On July 10 at approximately 8:50 PM, officers responded to Stubblefield Lane for a fraud complaint.

- On July 10 at approximately 9:17 PM, officers responded to Continental Ave for a disturbance, resulting in the arrest of a male adult for public intoxication.

- On July 11 at approximately 9:52 AM, officers responded to the 2000 block of RM 1869 for a theft complaint.

- On July 11 at approximately 2:28 PM, officers responded to 15000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident.

- On July 11 at approximately 6:01 PM, officers responded to the 2000 block of CR 200 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

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Thursday, July 16, 2020

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 3

The reason we have open government laws is Hill Police Blotter because politicians always get too big for their britches Liberty Prepared by Liberty Hill Police Department

By WILT CUTTER Columnist Kids, here’s a government class that is brief, free and completely nonpartisan.

Secret government never works, it’s the most un-American thing there is. Secret government brings abuse because it’s run by humans who were elected by other humans to REPRESENT them. Representation cannot happen in secret. So, open, transparent government is the only way a democracy can work.

Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin don’t have to worry about such things since they have brainwashed armies, secret police and nuclear weapons. However, in Liberty Hill letting the public know everything should be a source of pride.

For example, whether you see it as an absolute fact written by God or a beautiful allegory, a teaching parable or a semi-entertaining fable, the Garden of Eden is a great example of humans in their natural state. We were peaceful creatures, fragile little beings in need of care.

God made us so he felt responsible. So he set up the perfect place. Everything we needed was provided. We didn’t even have to ask. God was right there with us and spoke to us in the evenings when he got home from work. We didn’t have to wonder what he thought, what he wanted us to do…it was all right there. No questions unanswered.

But, as everyone knows, the sojourn in the Garden of Eden ended in the first great human tragedy. Adam and Eve voted against the only pure utopian government and got sent packing. They discovered they’d been walking around

naked. And then they found the U-Haul parked out front already loaded with a lifetime supply of fig leaves. Since that moment in time, humans have been messing around all over this earth trying to create a cheap substitute to eternal love, total safety, justice and mercy and just the right amount of taxes. It’s called government.

Government does not include hiding things for 127 days, requiring a secret sesame code for obtaining normal elements of government like say, budgets.

Hey! Citizens aren’t on a need to know basis from politicians who are voting to extend their own terms and raise their own pay. That taxpayer money you’ve been spending on cool toys isn’t yours. It belongs to the citizens and they have a right to know how you spent it.

You are supposed to be working for them.

Local folks shouldn’t have to hear rumors that the company that got paid buckets of money to build the kiddie splash pad was paid in advance of the safety inspections. That’s our taxpayer money and it’s our kids out there splashing.

Open government isn’t some kind of liberal slogan. It means the money, actions and the result of how those things are managed are the property of the public. Secret government means you are stealing the information away from those who have every right to know it. Just like it’s illegal to change or alter government documents, its also illegal to withhold it. What are you hiding?

Since it’s never too late to repent and change your ways… how about releasing all information requested today. Right now. All of it. Since the information wasn’t yours in the first place.

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer GEORGETOWN -- As Williamson County gets ready to release its recommended budget for 2021 this month and vote on the final budget in August, the big question is: What role does the COVID-19 pandemic play in the process?

Preparation for the county budget begins in February when the budget office meets with county commissioners for direction and guidance.

“At that point, it was business as usual. We talked about different issues like new positions, compensation increases, healthcare increases and we left that meeting with direction,” said County Budget Officer Ashlie Koenig. “What the court did later was put an item on the agenda when COVID hit and said they wanted to revisit things. At that point, they directed the budget office not to recommend any new positions or new programs.”

Because uncertainties with COVID-19 and its impact on revenue for 2021, county commissioners are pushing departments to be conservative in their proposals.

“Our instruction to those that are putting together their budgets needed to take a very cautious and conservative approach to what they were submitting,” said Pct. 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long. “It would be doubtful that we will increase staff or programs going forward into next year.

There are way too many unknowns at this point as to what the impact would be on county revenues going forward.”

Long expects to see the proper impact of COVID-19 once property taxes are collected in January 2021.

“A vast majority of county revenue comes from property taxes, and those taxes are usually collected by January at the latest every year,” she said.

“So, we really won’t see the

impacts until mid-next year of whether COVID had an impact on the values on people’s residences or businesses.”

While property taxes make up the most substantial chunk, the county revenue is also made up of court fines and fees.

“You’re looking at a wide array of revenue. So, you’re looking at property taxes and fines and fees, which have come down drastically,” Koenig said. “The other portion of revenue is investment income, revenue received from investments. COVID could impact all of these numbers. We need to be as conservative as possible until we know the impact.”

One of the most significant changes Koenig said will need to be continually addressed heading into next year is the increased need for technology.

“What I’m seeing is we’re looking at a lot of technology needs that are different than they’ve looked in the past because we have people working

from home,” she said. “The biggest asks are going to be in the area of technology. IT is working hard right now to put together some lists of needs.”

Despite the pandemic, the budget is on the same track as it usually would be. The budget office is determined to remain on schedule.

“There haven’t been any setbacks. When the court revisited their directives for our office, they made it very clear that they didn’t want any hiccups,” said Koenig.

The total budget for 2020 was $393,843,886. The goal for the budget office is to match that number or get under it if possible. Once the proposed budget is released on July 23, there will be a series of workshops to discuss and adjust the recommended budgets for the County Commissioners’ final vote in August.

got the shade structure, it’s got the kiddie pool off to the side.

This is why I want the Council to consider this.”

Council hesitation Despite agreement that discussions should take place with members of the Parks Board, Council member Tony

DeYoung called it a “heavy price tag and a large project” to take on now. Council member Gram Lankford also shared his reservations.

“I don’t feel like it’s a good time to spend that kind of money on a project like this,” said

COVID creates cautious approach to Williamson County budget

POOL

Continued from Page 1

The next option Hall’s suggested alternative resembled a plan he proposed back in October, which the Council rejected at that time.

He emphasized this time the shrinking of the building in the project, and simplifying some other parts.

“The building design is, and this is a comment from the engineer, the building design is way too large as far as the equipment space room, the chemical space room. He said you’ll probably use 25-30 percent of that for the pumps and equipment for the pool, so there’s a lot of additional cost in that.”

He said the simpler proposal made it more affordable.

“This design is more typical

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of what municipalities do,” Hall said of the new proposal. “It’s just a square rectangle pool, and again, like with the other design it was shaped, it wasn’t square lines, so that also had increased price for the pool.”

The second plan includes a smaller building, no zero entry, and replacing the splash pad with a kiddie pool.

The new plan is proposed at just over $1.5 million based on projections from Halff Associates.

“We’re talking about a $700,000 difference in the project,” Hall said. “But this would still give us the pool the community is wanting. It would give us the appropriate-sized building we need, it’s

Week of July 6-12, 2020 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 490 incidents resulting in 13 cases, 44 citations, 98 warnings and four arrests.

Weekly Highlights: - On July 6 at approximately 9:11 AM, officers responded the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident.

- On July 6 at approximately 4:29 PM, officers responded to Presidential Path for a traffic hazard.

- On July 6 at approximately 10:13 PM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for a suspicious incident.

- On July 6 at approximately 10:31 PM, officers responded to Agave Azul Way for a suspicious incident.

- On July 7 at approximately 4:23 AM, officers arrested a male adult with outstanding warrants as the result of a traffic stop at the 1000 block of Loop 332.

- On July 7 at approximately 8:27 AM, officers responded to CR 200 for a mental issue.

- On July 7 at approximately 12:27 PM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for a possible commercial vehicle fire.

- On July 7 at approximately 12:34 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for a disturbance.

- On July 8 at approximately 1:58AM, officers responded to the 2000 block of CR 279 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On July 8 at approximately

4:16 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for a theft in progress resulting in an arrest.

- On July 8 at approximately 11:12 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for suspicious activity.

- On July 9 at approximately 2:03 AM, officers responded to the 11000 block of W. SH 29, for suspicious activity.

- On July 9 at approximately 12:18 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for suspicious activity.

- On July 10 at approximately 12:32AM, officers arrested a male adult for driving while intoxicated, as the result of a traffic stop on US 183.

- On July 10 at approximately 6:00 AM, officers responded to Hillcrest Lane for a vehicle burglary.

- On July 10 at approximately 8:50 PM, officers responded to Stubblefield Lane for a fraud complaint.

- On July 10 at approximately 9:17 PM, officers responded to Continental Ave for a disturbance, resulting in the arrest of a male adult for public intoxication.

- On July 11 at approximately 9:52 AM, officers responded to the 2000 block of RM 1869 for a theft complaint.

- On July 11 at approximately 2:28 PM, officers responded to 15000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident.

- On July 11 at approximately 6:01 PM, officers responded to the 2000 block of CR 200 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

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Page 4

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, July 16, 2020

BUSINESS

Candy store offers portal to past Texas Honey Hole features wide variety of sweets

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Jodi McCumber would often have a very sweet epiphany during visits to retail stores with her mother, Gina Zachmann.

“There are times when we would walk into a store and think, ‘Wow, I haven’t seen this candy since I was little,’” she said. “Me, now being a mother to my wonderful son Bradley, and Gina being my son’s grandmother, we often found ourselves buying candy that we missed, not for ourselves but to share with my son. So that got us thinking why not open an old-fashioned candy store with a country gift shop to boot?”

From that realization, Texas Honey Hole was born.

However, the origins of the project originally had nothing to do with sweet stuff, said McCumber.

“Gina and I thought about opening a gift shop in downtown Liberty Hill,” she said, of the store located on Loop 332 just north of CR 1869 near downtown. “However, Liberty Hill has a lot of different gift shops and we wanted to be different.”

So, different is what they did – featuring an underlying theme of providing people with intrinsic satisfaction through extrinsic gratification – with the ultimate goal to enhance one’s memory banks from days gone by.

“This is our way of bringing family together to share candy from their childhood,” said McCumber. “It’s a chance for adults to eat their favorites again and get the beautiful smiles back on their faces as the memories flow through their minds and it’s also a way of sharing candies of the past with children.”

Speaking of sweet sensations, fresh honey is also available, as McCumber also owns Jackass Honey Farms, which she has operated in Liberty Hill for eight years – although the only connection between the two

entities is the Texas-themed animal on the store’s logo.

“The donkey kicking the beehive out of the tree is the logo for Jackass Honey Farms – Texas Honey Hole was given legal permission to use the logo within their logo,” said McCumber. “Gina and I chose to use that logo within the Texas Honey Hole logo in hopes the community will recognize the donkey and beehive and know they can purchase local raw honey within our store.”

Texas Honey Hole features a wide variety of different kinds of candy – and from different time periods – for those who are nostalgic, she said.

“For example, we carry 12 different flavors of smooth creamy fudges, 12 flavors of salt water taffy, local raw honey, retro candy, old-fashioned candy – including peanut butter bars, root beer barrels, zotz, astro pops and wacky wafers, just to name a few,” said McCumber. “But, we seriously have something for everyone, including sugar-free candy.”

But, that’s only the tip of the sugar-coated iceberg – with treats for every budget.

“The numbers are limitless.

Texas Honey Hole currently has more then 100 types of candy in our store, starting at five cents and it goes up from there,” she said. “We wanted to keep some cost-effective candy in our store as well, because we want children to understand what it was like back in the day when a dollar would go so far. We also want parents to be able to give a ‘yes’ answer when their child asks if they can have some candy.”

According to McCumber, opening the store in Liberty Hill was the only logical choice, as far as she was concerned.

“We’ve never opened a business in a big city and to be honest, we would never even consider it,” said McCumber. “For the most part, we’re two country women that value the little things in

Local business owners Jodi McCumber (right), and her mother, Gina Zachmann, decided to open Texas Honey Hole in order to give people a chance to relive memories as well as share them with others through various kinds of candy. (Courtesy Photo) recommend above all others?

A difficult proposition, she said, but one she hopes will keep customers returning for more.

ELECTION

“Bacon lollipops, fudge, honey,” said McCumber. “Honestly, I can’t just choose one, so I’ll list my top three. If they choose any of them, they’ll

trust us enough to come back another time and try the next one on the list.”

Continued from Page 1

with 52 percent of the vote to West’s 49 percent. The Williamson County native carried her home county with 77.5 percent of the vote.

She will next face incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn in November.

Chrysta Castaneda won 62 percent of the vote in her race for the Railroad Commission nomination, defeating Robert Alonzo.

The Democratic runoff drew 28,679 voters to the polls, a 9.14 percent turnout. The turnout was more than double that of the 2018 runoff when 11,343 voted.

Voting numbers have grown dramatically in Williamson County over the past three election cycles, with 71,000 more registered voters in the county in 2020 versus 2016, and 6,500 more ballots cast in

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this year’s March primary versus 2016.

In the upcoming District 31 race, Imam says her analytical approach is something she says voters embrace and appreciate in a changing district.

“What voters are looking for is a voice of reason for this district,” Imam said. “Someone who is going to deliver them real solutions and not ignore them. The electorate of this district and the composition of that electorate has changed significantly over the last five years as Austin has grown into a big city from a sleepy little college town.”

In addition to jobs and healthcare, current social justice issues prove change is needed in many areas, according to Imam.

“America is in pain over what happened, but this is not

just about law enforcement,” she said. “This is about decades of economic inequality among Black Americans and it extends beyond that to education, to healthcare, it’s being able to get a higher-wage job.”

As she travels the district, she says what she hears is people frustrated over a lack of representation.

“People feel very neglected and left behind by our current Congressman who has been there for nine terms and this has been repeated over and over to me,” she said. “We are talking about the kitchen-table issues that every Republican, every Democrat, every independent is facing and we’re talking to them in the language they understand that impacts them.”

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life -- being able to greet your customers by name when they walk through the door, to ask them about their family, to be able to donate to the community, invest our time into teaching children at the schools and be able to witness families spending time together in our store sharing laughs – there’s no other substitute for that.

We wouldn’t have chosen to open our store anywhere else.

Not to mention Liberty Hill is the most amazing community we’ve ever had the privilege of being a part of. We just don’t believe the big city would ever be a great fit for us.”

All that being said, big city or small town, the coronavirus doesn’t discriminate and the pandemic weighed on McCumber’s mind as she and Zachmann made plans for the grand opening, she said.

“I think it was a bigger risk for us as we didn’t know what was going to happen,” she said.

“There was a lot of fear. We signed a two-year lease, paid the rent and got all of our products and decided to open a store during a pandemic, not knowing if we would be shut down due to COVID-19.”

Indeed, they were able to open, but much of the joy they hoped to bring to the community has – at least for the time being – been muffled by masks.

“Wearing a mask all day and having our customers come in with masks is hard. Don’t get us wrong, we would rather wear a mask and be open than to be shut down – but it’s hard having customers come in and say, ‘Do you remember me?” and you’re looking at a person with a mask on trying to remember them from their eyes and their voice. We can’t see their smiling faces when they find their childhood candy on the shelf and they can’t see us smiling when we tell them to have a blessed day. It really does hurt our hearts when we can’t even hug those customers who have become like family.”

So, what’s the one product in her store McCumber would

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 5

Hall violates DPS policy in accessing police computer

By MIKE EDDLEMAN and SHELLY WILKISON An Oct. 4, 2018, Liberty Hill Police body camera being worn by Officer Jeff Farmer caught Mayor Rick Hall accessing the on-board computer system in a patrol vehicle during a ride-along that included a high-speed pursuit into North Austin.

Former Police Chief Maverick Campbell raised the issue as one of two allegations against Hall in relation to the incident, claiming it was first brought to his attention by Lt. Jeff Ringstaff when the video was requested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in relation to the suspect who fled.

A review of the video, turned over to The Independent July 7 – 127 days after it was first requested – verifies that Hall did access the computer, and appeared adept at maneuvering through the system. (See the video at www.lhindependent.com) According to a spokesperson with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) – the agency responsible for managing the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (TLETS) used on the computers – access is meant for authorized users only and those users are required to have specific training.

“Only authorized users will have access to devices that access the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (TLETS),” the spokesperson wrote in an e-mailed response to The Independent.

“Additionally, authorized users attain — and must maintain — the appropriate level of training for access to TLETS.” According to DPS, an authorized user is defined as an individual who has been appropriately vetted through a national fingerprint based record check and have been granted access to the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS).

“All users accessing information from the Texas Crime Information Center/TLETS are required to take training within six months from the date of assignment,” DPS wrote. “After obtaining the initial training, operators are required to main-

tain or re-certify that level of training every two years.”

Kim Vickers, executive director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, told The Independent that although he had not seen the video in question, it is a serious matter when someone who is not a sworn law enforcement officer accesses protected information on a law enforcement computer.

“If the Mayor accessed CJIS information, then that is a violation. It would initially be a violation on the officer because he allowed the Mayor to run the checks or whatever the Mayor is doing,” said Vickers.

“If he accessed CJIS information, which I imagine he probably would, to try to run the license plate and everything like that — making that access available to him even if it’s just allowing him access to the computer, falls on the officer not the Mayor. Now, if the Mayor turns around and releases any of that information to someone else, then the Mayor joins in the offense.”

At risk is not only information that Hall and others should not have access to, but the Department’s future access to the system as well.

Vickers said he has seen officers lose their jobs or face disciplinary action for allowing others access to protected information contained in the system. But the repercussions on the agency are perhaps even more severe.

Vickers, who has served as executive director of TCOLE since 2011, served 27 years with the Abilene Police Department until his retirement from the department in 2006.

While there, he served in a number of roles, including oversight of the training division and officer selection process, Patrol Division supervision and command, school resource officer and public information officer. Before being promoted to executive director at TCOLE, Vickers worked for the agency as a field service agent for the West Texas region, then promoted to Director of Education and Credentialing. He has 33 years experience as a teacher and train-

er of law enforcement officers.

“The problem is if CJIS comes in — and this is why it’s taken seriously — the one time they find it happening, they will make lots of threats. But if they find it on multiple occasions, they can come in and take that department’s right to even use CJIS information,” Vickers said. “If CJIS finds out that access is being abused, they have every right and ability to go in and pull the terminal, and pull the line number, and when they do, that agency can’t run anything. It pretty much neuters them, so it is a very serious situation.

“CJIS would not be happy at all about finding the video that you have,” he said. “They would, I’m sure, take issue with Liberty Hill PD and that officer, which ultimately goes through the PD. The officer committed the violation, but the access to the system is granted through the PD, and the whole PD could suffer because of the action of the officers.”

According to DPS, violations of the rules, regulations, policies and procedures, or any other misuse or abuse of TLETS will result in notification to the agency administrator to discuss the possibility of sanctions including, but not limited to, termination of service to the offending agency.

In those situations where clear violations of the law have occurred, criminal prosecution of the offender may occur.

The TLETS system provides the DPS and local criminal justice agencies with access to the Texas Crime Information Center (TCIC); DPS’ Computerized Criminal History System (CCH); DPS’ Driver License System (DLS); The Department of Motor Vehicles’ Registration Title System (RTS), TexasSure – the Financial Responsibility Verification Program (FRVP), and Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW). Federal and state law regulates access to and dissemination of CCH, and prescribes security and privacy rules for systems that access it.

DPS is responsible to insure that FBI CJIS Policy is applied to Texas agencies accessing

FBI data.

“The data accessible through TLETS is documented criminal justice information and must be protected to ensure correct, legal and efficient dissemination and use,” the DPS spokesperson wrote. “It is incumbent upon every agency operating a TLETS terminal to implement the necessary procedures to make that terminal secure from any unauthorized access or use. Any departure from this responsibility warrants the removal of the offending terminal from further participation in the TLETS network.”

Campbell would not elaborate on any disciplinary action taken against Officer Farmer regarding this incident, but Farmer did resign from the department the following year.

Campbell added, and text messages from Ringstaff and newly-appointed Chief Royce Graeter verify, that Hall did attempt to involve himself in the disciplinary issues with Farmer.

The ride along program was suspended after the incident pending a new policy, as Campbell said Hall was a frequent rider. He also said Hall complained at the time that the program was suspended.

“CJIS looks at it as it’s serious. A single instance of that happening is not a horribly egregious offense, but it could be if it’s an indicator of a more systemic abuse of that system,” Vickers said.

“If it were me and I’m trying to run my agency correctly, then I would discipline the officer depending on the severity of the situation and if it was an ongoing or just a one-time incident. I would contact CJIS and say ‘we’ve had this breach and I’m reporting it to you in full disclosure, it has been dealt with and it won’t happen again’,” he said.

Based on his knowledge of the patrol unit computer, Vickers said there is very little that the Mayor could be doing on the computer that wouldn’t be “crossing a line of an offense, of getting privileged information. I really can’t see a practical use on there that he would not be accessing information

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to which he’s not entitled. If it’s in the middle of a chase and it’s in the process of doing that stuff, then it is extremely reasonable to conclude that he is doing stuff to try to help gain information on the person that’s running, which would be CJIS protected information.

The fact that he looks proficient doing it probably means that it’s not his first time to do it and this is something that happens pretty regularly.”

Vickers added that his concern over the incident would go in multiple directions had it occurred under his watch, and an internal affairs investigation would determine whether it was voluntary on the part of the officer or whether there was coercion on the part of a mayor, who was in a position to make decisions regarding his employment.

“First, is my officer being compromised? Is my officer

being ordered to show him how to do this?” he said. “If so, the officer still shouldn’t do it. You have to follow orders as an officer unless what you’re ordered to do is illegal. There’s always provisions to protect the officer from having to do something that’s an unlawful act.”

The DPS spokesperson said, “Any policy violations, to include unauthorized access or use of information obtained from the TLETS system, is to be reported immediately to designated agency personnel for immediate and necessary action.”

It is unclear at this time if this incident, or any other, was reported to DPS. At press time Wednesday, the newspaper had not received a response to a written request submitted July 7 for an interview with Ringstaff and Hall to discuss the video.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Future plans at risk over rising coronavirus numbers

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Liberty Hill has surpassed the century mark in confirmed cases, according to City officials, but among those, only 32 are current active cases.

But that is a four-fold increase in confirmed cases since June 28, mirroring the dramatic increases in the county and across the state. These numbers have led Gov. Greg Abbott to mention the possibility of another shutdown across Texas, and led some Central Texas school districts to already delay the beginning of

Council

Continued from Page 1

offense and may jeopardize an agency’s access to that system in the future.

When asked after the meeting to clarify her comments, Canady elaborated in an e-mail response.

“I am saying that according to your story/article/editorial?, (not sure what it was because it started on Facebook and ended up on your website) where I became aware of it - The Independent and Mr. Campbell it seems (and possible speculation by an outside agency) felt like something was done that should not have been done. I believe that ex Police Chief Campbell encouraged people to participate with the ride along process. And if Campbell encouraged ride-alongs, I don’t think he properly educated the civilians in the ride along rules. It appears that other officers felt that there might be issues and brought this to Mr. Campbell’s attention as the Chief of Police. These notifications place the correction measure on Mr. Maverick, again he was the Chief of Police. If there were infractions to this process, I am blaming Mr. Maverick due to his encouragement of this opportunity, his lack of proper education for these individuals, and for his not correcting these issues.

I actually believe that he encouraged use of these computers to some of the individuals that he solicited to participate.

This is how it appears to me in my opinion.”

The City still has not responded to The Independent’s request to interview both Hall and Lt. Jeff Ringstaff about the incident to clarify exactly what happened and whether the entirety of the video was provided to the newspaper under an open records request.

Hale raise After a discussion in executive session, Canady made a motion to raise the salary for newly hired Chief Operating Officer Lacie Hale by nearly 30 percent.

“I would like to make a motion to change Lacie Hale’s pay to $120,000 a year and we also add the event coordinator and code enforcement officer to her umbrella of people that she supervises.”

Testing

in-person classes up to three weeks.

Texas added more than 64,000 new confirmed cases last week, with 835 new in Williamson County. The new county cases is an increase over the four-week average of 783. There were 607 fatalities across Texas in the past seven days, with 10 in Williamson County.

Two areas officials have been focused on to measure success against COVID-19 have been the testing positivity rate and hospital occupancy. But these numbers are not showing posi-

Council member Tony DeYoung attempted to amend the motion to raise her salary to $106,000 annually, with the salary being raised then to $120,000 at the beginning of the next fiscal year in October.

“I’m not willing to do that,” Canady responded, and DeYoung’s amendment died for a lack of a second. The Council voted 4-1 to approve the increase.

“I think personally we started the job at a lesser salary than what I’d like to have seen us start at,” Canady said. “I think by adding these two positions to supervise, and the fact she started off lower than she should have started off, she merits the increase.”

Hale was just hired in March as the City’s new Chief Operating Officer, when the Council decided not to hire a new City Administrator.

Her beginning salary was $91,000. Former City Administrator Greg Boatright’s last salary increase was in September 2018 when he was bumped from $119,000 to $134,000 -- five years after first stepping into the role.

Hale formerly served as the City Secretary in Hutto from May 2019 to her move to the City of Liberty Hill. Prior to that she worked six years as City Secretary in West Lake Hills. Hale has been accepted into the International City/ County Management Association’s Emerging Leadership Program.

Splash pad open Though it was not an agenda item for discussion, the City announced the Wetzel Park Splash Pad was open to the public, after DeYoung inquired on the status of the park.

“There is no question on the grounding,” Hall said. “It’s all been approved, it’s safe.”

Council member Steve McIntosh suggested doing more to get the update out to the public, making a non-specific accusation about the information being shared with the public about the project.

“Can we get out an update because there are folks that make up their own facts, so maybe we could keep them apprised of how it’s going,” he said.

The Independent reported July

Continued from Page 1

began battling the infection that I truly felt the magnitude of the situation.

Yes, statistics show this is a serious issue. The United States has documented a little more than 3.37 million cases and just over 137,000 deaths.

In Texas, there are 259,000plus cases and 3,200-plus deaths. In the end, for most of us, those are numbers without faces. It isn’t until you can personalize the issue that it becomes a reality. That’s how it was for me.

For a few weeks now, I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to get tested, and I ran into more than one obstacle. Some testing sites charged between $150-$200 for testing, others won’t test until you show symptoms. When I received an e-mail from Williamson County that they would be setting up several free testing sites last week, I thought this was the perfect opportunity.

On July 10 -- the day designated for the Taylor Intermediate School’s testing site – I woke up bright and early, ate breakfast, picked up a friend, and got on my way to the site.

During the 30-minute drive, I could feel the nerves as we got closer and closer, the conversation with my passenger filtering out as thoughts of what was to come filled my head.

After what felt like an eternity, we arrived at the loca-

tion. The first thing that stood out was the number of people there – what seemed like close to 100 – and the National Guard’s presence. The testing table was set up outside of the school in the shade under a large tree. It was a long foldout table with several stations for up to about eight people to stand at.

Before making it to the actual test, we first signed in at a table with a guardsman. In front of him was a paper with a QR Code, he instructed us to take a photo of it with our phones to open up an app and sign in for an instant appointment.

The purpose of this was to give the information needed to get results to those being tested and to expedite the process.

It asked for name, address, e-mail address, and phone number.

After signing in on the app, we were ushered in through the front of the school, where we gave them an individual code generated on the app.

The attendant printed a label for the testing kit and test tube.

After sanitizing our hands, we were handed a sealed bag with a cotton swab, a test tube, and a small information pamphlet before being put in line.

The wait in line was less than five minutes, and before I knew it, I was being sent out the door to the testing table.

My friend, who was tested right before me, gave me a

tive trends either.

The positivity rate among those tested has reached 16.9 percent, and was at 6.1 percent a month ago. Abbott said when he declared Texas would begin opening businesses in May that a positivity rate at 10 percent or higher would be cause for concern.

In Texas, the hospitalization number went up 1,300 in the past week and is up 4,000 this month at a total Tuesday of 10,569.

In the Central Texas trauma region – which includes Travis and Williamson counties – 518

people were hospitalized over COVID-19 related issues and there were 57 available intensive care unit beds available in the region.

Local testing The free testing planned for last week in Liberty Hill has now been rescheduled for July 24 at Liberty Hill Junior High.

More information on testing locations and options can be found on the Williamson County and Cities Health District website, wcchd.org.

Schools Liberty Hill ISD is expected to discuss options and de-

tails of the plan for returning to school in August during its board meeting July 20. Superintendent Steve Snell has been providing regular updates on what the district is learning from the Texas Education Agency, and has pointed to Aug. 1 as the date LHISD hopes to share more specific plans with the community.

The district also sent out a second survey to parents this week, seeking more input on preferences and concerns relating to beginning school.

While Abbott announced last month that Texas students

would be back in the classroom on time, that stance has softened this week with a number of districts around the state lobbying for the option to begin with online instruction. Now, Leander, Round Rock, Pflugerville and Austin districts all plan to begin with online instruction for the first three weeks of the school year.

LHISD has not indicated yet whether it will plan to do the same.

2 on possible safety concerns raised regarding the grounding of the splash pad, an issue the Council itself wrestled with in a June meeting.

At the time, the City did not respond to questions from the newspaper about why former inspector Jonny Ubelhor – who was terminated along with former Director of Planning Sally McFeron over an issue related to the splash pad – publicly stated he believed he made a mistake in signing the certificate of occupancy for the splash pad and wished he had not, raising questions about safety.

Hall emphasized again Monday that the grounding was checked and verified and the splash pad was safe.

Events update The unknown of the future regarding the spread of the COVID-19 virus has claimed its second event this year in Liberty Hill with the City announcing the Whimsy & Wonder Festival has been canceled.

“The event that was scheduled in May, had got pushed off to August because of COVID, we’ve made the decision to cancel that because we’re still up in the air with everything,” Hall said. “We had a sponsor for that and I’m working with him to agree to sponsor it next May. Hoping we can get back on the normal schedule for that.”

The Christmas Festival is still scheduled for Dec. 12, and after the cancellation of the July 4th event, the City has been able to rebook the band Little Texas to play at the Christmas event this year.

After having the July 4 fireworks display take place in the field between Liberty Hill Intermediate and Liberty Hill Junior high schools, Hall said the location proved ideal and is being considered for the future home of the entire event.

“We could do our whole entire event there next year so we’re going to work with (LHISD Superintendent Steve Snell) on that,” Hall said. “There’s plenty of room, there’s no busing you have to do because there well be plenty of parking for people to walk from.”

The festival has historically been held in City Park.

Dump truck The Council voted unanimously to purchase a new dump truck for the Public Works Department. The new truck has a price tag of $135,000, but the City will get $50,000 in trade-in value, leaving $85,000 to be financed.

The current truck is five years old, but has had extensive mechanical issues.

“More times than Wayne (Bonnet) can count this truck has left him stranded on the side of the road,” Hall said.

“We’ve had a lot of issues with it. I feel as a safety issue for our employees and our citizens that are out driving alongside us, and because this has seen more shop time than road time, this is a great recommendation.”

The current truck was paid for with cash, so there is no balance to pay off. The Council will have to decide on the length of financing, according to Finance Director Becky Wilkins, but once it is purchased there will be no payment due for a year.

Trees The Council discussed the option of changing the drainage plan at the new parking lot being constructed on the old washateria lot at the corner of Loop 332 and CR 279 in an attempt to save four pecan trees on the property, but ultimately the decision was made to continue with the current plan.

“This changes the overall design of the project and it has

some benefits of course in saving trees, but it also has some detriments too in that the original design was for an open channel to improve drainage through this area from Hickman to 332 and collect that drainage water,” said engineer Curtis Steger, who was asked if the drainage change would be an issue. “It’s not going to get any worse, but it won’t get any better I believe.”

The potential drainage problems, along with the increase in price – almost $112,000, according to the proposed change order – made the change impractical for the Council.

“The issue was the family had planted them and there was an emotional attachment,” McIntosh said. “Originally when I heard about this I kind of sympathized with that, however, when I saw the bill I kind of became less so. My focus on the bill is really the issue.”

The City plans to try to replace the removed trees elsewhere. Even with the removal of the trees, there will be more than a dozen trees remaining on the property.

New plan?

Hall announced at the conclusion of the meeting he has asked Halff Associates, who has worked with the City on the Swim Center, trails and other programs, to take a new look at the City’s drainage plan.

“They will be looking at a drainage plan for the city,” Hall said. “The current drainage plan we have for the city

has got a price tag somewhere in the $5 million to $6 million range, which is building retention ponds all over the city with the majority of that cost buying up property, taking it off tax records, putting a hole in the ground then we have to maintain that every year for those retention ponds.”

The City previously worked extensively on a multi-phase drainage plan with K. Friese and Associates through 2018 and into 2019.

In discussions with Hale, Hall said “the best permanent solution is to dredge all of our current drainage ditches that over the years have filled in with debris, open those channel.”

Hall said he plans to bring a proposal back to council with potential costs of a new engineering study.

Bill Pickett honored Bill Pickett, born in Jenks Branch in 1870, went on to become a ranch hand and later a famous rodeo cowboy.

The Liberty Hill City Council read a proclamation Monday naming Dec. 5 as Bill Pickett Day in Liberty Hill, to honor the 1989 inductee into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

“Bill Pickett was the bestknown African-American rodeo performer of all time,” Canady said. “He was a wellknown African-American rodeo performer, and invented the rodeo sport of bulldogging, now known as steer wrestling, and entertained millions of people around the world with his riding and roping skills.”

thumbs-up before it began.

Several of us surrounded the table, and the medical worker began to instruct us on the self-test. To my very relieved surprise, this wasn’t going to be a nasal test. Instead, it was a saliva test.

We were instructed to remove the swab from its packaging, then insert it into our mouths.

We rubbed the swab on the right cheek and right gums, the left cheek, and gums and finally on the tongue and top of the mouth. When complete, we placed it in the tube, snapped off the long part of the swab, just leaving the saliva covered end in it, sealed it, shook it, and placed it in the sealed bag.

That was it. That was the test.

We were told we’d receive results in three to five days and were sent on our way. From the time we arrived at the site to the time we left, it was less than the drive — less than 30 minutes.

I can happily say that I received my test results in two days, and I’m negative for COVID-19.

Despite what you’ve heard, the test isn’t something you should be afraid of. For your sake and for others’ sake, it’s something you should get done if it’s available. Williamson County is planning more testing in the coming weeks, so get out there and get tested.

WCESD

Continued from Page 1

that have lost people for days.

Total I think we’ve lost as precautionary measures about seven shifts.”

The real concern for him is when firefighters are away from the department, having to deal with crowds at stores and other places.

“I think we’re probably more at risk on our days away from here than we are here,” Lincoln said. “When we make calls here during the day we wear PPE (personal protective equipment). You can just run into someone at the grocery store or a family friend and be more at risk.

“If one person drags it to work and they come at shift change they can expose the shift they’re relieving, their shift and two days later expose the next shift,” he said.

There’s a lot of monitoring for symptoms that goes on in the two stations today.

“Our staff checks their temperature several times while they’re on duty to make sure they’re not coming down with something,” Lincoln said.

“I’ll check mine in the mornings when I come to work then in the afternoon. At this point in time we do everything we can do.”

In addition to the standard precautionary measures like regular hand washing, sanitizer and as much social distancing as possible, the department has added measures including treated mats to sanitize shoes, switching shoes, and purchasing Frogg Toggs to be used as personal protective suits.

“It’s kind of like a rain suit,” he said. “For about $50 a person we were able to get two piece suits. We bought those for every staff member and that’s what they’re using for their PPE when they have to go in these houses. We can decontaminate them and reuse them, and we were having trouble getting PPE anyway.

There wasn’t any, and there’s still not a great abundance of this stuff.”

Adjustments have also been made in protocols to respond to calls, and Lincoln said

early on, procedures could change in a day based on outside guidance and new information. Now, the goal on a call is to expose as few firefighters as possible to potential hazards.

“We would have a call and send in two or three people into a house,” he said. “We don’t do that anymore. We get alerts if everything is working right. But we send one person in now. We will continue to be cautious and look at how we expose ourselves when we go into a house. We may be wearing masks and PPE from now on.”

The department, as well as others around the county, learned quickly that some safety measures can also have a negative impact if not balanced properly, citing some equipment damage issues.

“You pick up one of our gas detectors and it blows out a censor,” he said, explaining how high amounts of alcohol hand sanitizer would damage the hand-held gas detectors.

“So we’ve got all these repercussions of how we are trying to protect ourselves that are effecting pieces of equipment. Some departments had electronics in their truck cabs that were starting to fail because they were scrubbing them down with chemicals that were effecting some of the equipment.”

New heights The ESD Board is set to vote at this month’s meeting on the purchase of a new ladder truck, something the department has been looking into for a few years.

The department had the same discussion when the last truck was purchased in 2018, but the need is greater than ever today, according to Lincoln.

“People are still building and we still have commercial projects coming in,” he said.

“We have a 24-foot extension ladder. That’s the tallest we have on our pumpers, so any large two-story house we probably can’t reach the roof on it. We have limited access, even on residential two-story houses. We have to

move forward with this. The new schools already call for the ability to get to the roof.

I told our board that just with the things going on now we need it.”

Getting a new truck into the station is a lengthy process, with more than a year wait for delivery, and it is a high-dollar purchase.

“We’re trying to find out financially how much we’re able to pay down to keep our payment at a certain rate,” Lincoln said. “We looked at this hard when we were opening Station 2. It was three years ago when we made that decision, but it takes a year to build a truck, a year to get into it and now we’ve had it a year.”

The ESD would not begin making payments for two years. A ladder truck will likely cost the ESD about $1.2 million said Lincoln, compared to the engine brought into service last year at $680,000.

The truck would have 500 gallons of water on it so it can be an engine or a ladder. It has a 35-foot ground ladder on it plus the ladder on top is 107 feet.

The ladder truck being looked at is shorter than the traditional truck, which means it will fit in the two current stations with 50-foot bays and 12-foot doors. But Lincoln said when it is received it will be stationed downtown with a four-person crew.

“It’s only like three or four feet longer than our pumpers,” he said. “It’s a pumper with a ladder on top, it’s not a full-blown ladder truck with a platform and stuff like that.”

Today, any call that requires a ladder truck means calling on neighboring departments for assistance.

“I can get a ladder out of Georgetown and I can get a ladder out of Leander if I need to, but sometimes when you first pull up is when you need that ladder,” he said. “You don’t need to wait on it if you have to do a rescue off one of these houses.”

SPORTS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, July 16, 2020 Page 7

Panther baseball camp stresses the fundamentals

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor All baseball players warm up before practices and games by playing catch.

However, how one plays catch can make all the difference once the first pitch is thrown.

Keeping the ball low while gunning it to a teammate in the heat of battle gives the recipient the opportunity to make a play on a bad throw, be it a short-hop or what have you.

If the ball is high in the same situation, it sails over its intended target’s head resulting in extra bases for the opposition.

Such is a perfect example of what Liberty Hill head baseball coach Steve Hutcherson wants to emphasize to players of all ages who attended the Panther baseball camp, held this week.

“For me, it’s extremely important for players to know how to do the little things,” said Hutcherson, who will be entering his third campaign in the Panthers’ dugout next season. “Basic fundamental skills can win or lose you games.”

With that philosophy as the backdrop for the proceedings, the camp was broken up into three different daily sessions by age group.

The morning session is set aside for first to third-graders with the emphasis being on one thing more than any other, said Hutcherson.

“We want them to have fun and leave with smiles on their faces,” he said. “We focus on basic fundamentals, so when they go back and play a Little League game, they’ll know what they’re doing.”

In the afternoon, the fourth to sixth-graders take over the diamond and the seriousness is ramped up a bit to match the developmental level players of that age are in, said Hutcherson.

“With that group, we work more on true fundamentals such as proper throwing mechanics and fielding your position the right way,” he said.

Finally, the evening session is for seventh to ninth-graders – players who are right on the cusp of the high school level – so accordingly, the emphasis on baseball intelligence is ratcheted up one more notch.

“We basically say to them, ‘Here’s what it’s like at the high school level,’” said Hutcherson. “We want them to have the sense we take a lot of pride in what we do here.”

Another way the camp is divided up is to focus on certain aspects of the game on each of the four days.

“On the opening day, we really work on position-specific throwing,” he said. “There are different mechanics which need to be learned if you’re a catcher, for example, as compared to an outfielder, so when they have to make a particular throw during a game, it’s not a

shock to their system.”

Going back to the fundamental theme, base running is also stressed – an often overlooked aspect of the game, said Hutcherson.

“In football, we have offense, defense and special teams, with each one as important as the other,” he said. “Base running is our version of special teams and we want to put as much into it as we can.”

One drill has players taking off from home to second on a simulated double, while a runner on second sprints home – a play that must be executed properly to shorten the distance between two points, making sure to not take too wide a turn while rounding third in order to create a more efficient beeline to the plate.

Day 2 sees infield mechanics take center stage with working on specific plays such as turning a double play or how to properly backhand a ball or play a slow roller up the line.

On the third day, outfield play is focused on – something which Hutcherson said sometimes goes without enough emphasis.

“Very few players at a young age identify themselves as outfielders,” he said. “We want them to be able to learn how to get out there and make the routine plays.”

Finally, the moment campers all wait for takes place on the fourth and final day when bats are swung.

LHISD has had zero virus cases since summer program began

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor On June 1, Liberty Hill athletes were once again able to take part in summer strength and conditioning drills, commonly known as Panther Athletic Conditioning (PAC), under the health and safety guidelines set forth by the UIL. Nearly six weeks in and the program has encountered zero positive coronavirus cases among the ranks – 560 strong in all – something athletic director and head football coach Jeff Walker attributes to the strict adherence to the restrictions.

“I’m not surprised because we’ve followed the guidelines set in place by the UIL and continue to focus on the safety of our athletes,” he said.

According to Walker, the biggest hurdle so far has been ensuring athletes and coaches maintain proper distance in regard to one another – particularly as one group of Panthers leaves after finishing a workout and the next wave arrives on campus.

“Social-distancing has been our biggest issue, especially during pick-up and dropoff,” said Walker. “We’ve been releasing groups at different times to manage the number of athletes gathering together.

We also exit our first session through gates on the opposite side of the field house, so they

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor So, what to write about this week?

Pretty difficult to be a sportswriter when there aren’t any sports going on.

We’ve been in this boat for about four months now since mid-March when You-KnowWhat first infringed on our collective existence. That is what we’re going to call it here.

If I have to continue using the term “global pandemic” in just about every story or column I write, call the men in white coats for me right now.

Under normal conditions, the dog days of July are slow for a high school sportswriter as only summer strength and conditioning is going on between school years, so we

Cyrus Rahimzadeh rolls over a tire during a workout at City Park in May before Liberty Hill’s summer strength and conditioning program was reinstated on June 1.

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

aren’t crossing paths with the incoming session.”

However, all that being said, Walker still wonders if his athletes are getting everything they need under the guidelines – although the usual work ethic is certainly still evident.

“I’m not sure if we’re getting the same work as in the past,” he said. “But, our athletes are working extremely hard and getting faster and stronger.”

The week of July 13-17 saw the program take a planned break in order to fully sanitize the premises – something that Walker and his staff decided was the right thing to do despite the fact it wasn’t required by the UIL, he said.

“We decided to shut down for the week to give our facilities a good cleaning,” said Walker.

“We also wanted to let our athletes and coaches have some time off.”

An additional challenge, which was presented by the health guidelines, was the ability for Walker and his coaches

to step out of their respective comfort zones as far as how the business of getting athletes ready for the season is conducted.

“As coaches, we had to adjust our normal plans,” he said.

“But with the help of the UIL guidelines, we were able to put a plan in order we felt was safe for our athletes.”

Last, but not least, the athletes themselves have had to make the biggest adjustments of all concerned, which Walker says is a test they’ve passed with flying colors.

“Our athletes have handled it very well,” he said. “We spent the first few days teaching our safety plan to them and they’ve done a great job of following what we have in place.”

The question remains with regards to whether or not the athletes are getting ready for a season that will actually take place.

“We’re hopeful we’ll get to play, but nobody really knows at this point.”

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

Liberty Hill head coach Steve Hutcherson gives instruction to players at the Liberty Hill youth baseball camp.

“We want to give them a rea- masks upon entering and exit- coaches can get a sneak peek son to keep coming back,” said ing the field and were expected at what the local baseball pipeHutcherson. “Everyone loves to maintain proper distance line looks like as far as what it during all drills. holds in store for his program. to hit.”

While Panthers baseball, “One of the biggest disadWork off tees and batting practice is included, along football and volleyball are go- vantages we have here is there with another seemingly lost ing ahead with their respective is no junior high baseball,” baseball art, he said. camps, soccer and basketball he said. “So, this gives us a “Bunting,” said Hutcherson. canceled theirs due to the pan- glimpse of what’s coming along down the line as far as “Base running and bunting go demic. hand-in-hand.”

According to Hutcherson, the future talent is concerned.”

Of course the primary objecNinety-six players in all at- decision to go ahead with the tended the camp across all camp, which is usually held in tive of the camp remains the the age groups, a number that June, was an easy call to make goal of producing better players across the board – as long was a pleasant surprise due to after gauging interest.

“Once I felt enough people as they’re receptive to learning the current uncertainty of the were still interested, there the nuances of the game. coronavirus, said Hutcherson.

“We want them to show up “Really, I was hoping to have wasn’t a doubt in my mind we at least 50 altogether,” he said. were going to have it,” said with an open mind and be will“So, we got more than we Hutcherson. “I feel like the ing to do all the little things it hoped for, although still few- UIL has given us clear guide- takes to be successful,” said er than last year, but a smaller lines, so we just have to do our Hutcherson. “At the end of the number made it more manage- best to keep the players apart day, we want them to leave as better players.” able with the restrictions. But, as much as possible.”

Conducting the camp is it was definitely worth doing.”

Players were required to wear one way Hutcherson and his

Summer camps a go with precautions

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Whether or not school and the sports that accompany them will be back in August is still undecided.

However, a trio of Panthers sports summer camps, which are scheduled to be held in July, provide a glimmer of hope for some semblance of normalcy to return.

Football, baseball and volleyball camps will take place after all, in the wake of soccer and basketball being canceled due to the global pandemic.

Baseball kicked the festivities off, as that event was held on July 13-17, football is set for July 27-29 and volleyball is scheduled for July 28-30.

Liberty Hill athletic director Jeff Walker said he left the decision of whether or not to proceed with the camps in the hands of the coaches of their respective sports, placing a value on their assessments as far as how practical going ahead was for each one.

“With COVID-19, I gave the coaches the option this year to have a camp if they thought they could safely have one or cancel because of all the safety concerns,” said Walker. “Obviously, some sports are a little easier to do social distancing, etc. All of my coaches want

Ben Carter works through an agility drill during a workout at City Park in May. to have their camps, but tim- line the process in a dress ing and safety concerns have rehearsal of sorts for when played a big part in decisions.” school returns.

The fact the camps will cov“We feel very good with er a broader range of different all the guidelines we have in age groups, along with high- place and they’ve worked for er numbers overall as com- us throughout this summer,” pared to the Panthers’ summer he said. “The camps may help strength and conditioning pro- us know where we need to gram – which was reinstated make some adjustments, but on June 1 under the new guide- we will continue to put the lines – will provide no issues, safety of our athletes first and said Walker. make sure everyone is aware “The only additional chal- of all the guidelines.” lenges are all the safety guideFinally, Walker had a meslines and ensuring we can sage for those who are skeptimeet those guidelines with the cal of whether or not to send various sports that are holding their children to the camps due camps,” he said. “Obvious- to health concerns. ly, we have plans in place for “I would tell the parents indoor versus outdoor camps, we’re going to do everything but for the most part, we’re we can to hold safe camps,” following the same guide- he said. “We feel we have all lines.” the guidelines in place to make Walker added rather than be- that happen. However, nothing ing satisfied with the success is foolproof with this virus. the re-start of the summer con- They need to weigh all of their ditioning program has had – options and do what they bewith zero positive coronavirus lieve is best for their child. We cases – the summer camps will understand some families will offer an opportunity to further understandably choose not to fine-tune and perhaps stream- attend camps this year.”

Sports well running quite dry

would be left with little in the way of Purple-and-Gold fare to choose from anyway.

However, after already being out in the sports nether for the past four months – or about twice as long as we usually have to wait before we’re back in business – the light at the end of the tunnel seems very faint at the moment.

We’ve opined in this space over recent weeks on the merits of bringing sports back this fall or not – if it’s at all feasible or practical accompanied by whatever shape or form school comes back in.

Just this past week, UIL announced any students who choose to study at home as opposed to attending class in person would still be eligible to participate in athletics.

Sounds by that as if it’s not a question of whether or not school returns, but how.

But, of course, it’s not that simple (when is it ever?)

Sports are such an important

fabric of our being as a smalltown community, it does everyone good for games to be played – even if it’s before empty stadiums and gyms.

Just knowing they’re going on provides not only relief and escape from such troubled times, but a brief respite from reality, which for our money is one of the most valuable intrinsic aspects of sports.

Everybody’s pretty down in the dumps right now and for good reason.

Wouldn’t it be so nice to know when the evening of Aug. 28 rolls around, the Panthers’ football team will be strutting out onto the gridiron for the first time as a Class 5A squad?

But, we’re not only talking about football here.

How about volleyball, cross country and tennis – the “other” fall sports that are also currently in jeopardy?

We know everyone’s health and safety – especially when

dealing with people’s children – are of the utmost importance and must continue to remain the number-one priority as we move forward.

We also know it’s not sensible to compare the professional or even college ranks with the prep level of competition because there aren’t millions of dollars at stake (although how much of a price tag do you put on someone’s health and well-being?)

Liberty Hill’s summer conditioning has gone off without a hitch for the first six weeks after the program was re-instated on June 1 with nary a positive case of You-KnowWhat after having abided by the strict guidelines set forth by the UIL. Which leads us to at least a partial conclusion that if everything is done right, it can actually work and as creatures of habit by nature, we as humans, will get more and more accustomed to the “tempo-

rary” normal – which we’re referring to it as because calling it the “new” normal sounds suspiciously like we’ll never, ever get back to the “old” normal – and will be able to move forward with confidence in the face of so much uncertainty.

Everyone’s waiting to wake up one of these mornings, turn on the television and hear breaking news about a vaccine for You-Know-What finally being available.

Well, that’s probably not on the horizon anytime soon, so what are we to do in the meantime?

If not in another month or so, then when?

Life certainly isn’t risk-free.

Fortunately, we all live in a day and age when something like this can be dealt with properly due to the level of medical and scientific knowledge we’ve attained over centuries of existence.

All that being said, if we have two football teams arrive at

Panther Stadium only to be temperature-checked before being admitted along with the myriad other precautions that are already becoming far too familiar in addition to empty stands or maybe one seat out of every four filled with fans, why can’t we play?

After all, there’s never going to be a perfect time or situation.

Sports can mean everything and nothing all at once.

Sometimes we lose sight of the fact they’re still only games with no real impact on real life.

Or is there?

The best medicine for YouKnow-What might just be the ability to watch the Panthers batter another team into submission with their famous Slot-T offense running downhill.

A literal solution?

Of, course not.

But, until there is one, it might just be the remedy we all need.

Page 8

SWIM

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page 3

Lankford. “I think there’s a right way to do it and in the future, potentially in the near future, we’ll have a better amount of funds to do something a bit more elaborate and I think the community would get a lot more out of it that way. I just don’t see it as the right time to spend a million dollars putting a pool in.”

Availability of funds The project falls under capital improvement projects, but there was no clear answer whether there are truly finds available for the project – at least not the originally approved project.

“Currently, we don’t have the funds to do the first plan,” Wilkins said. “It’s all contingent on the grant so if we don’t get the grant then that’s another half-million dollars we would have to come up with that we probably do not have at this point for that project.”

Hall said he thought there was currently $1.1 million to $1.2 million left in the CIP funds.

“We need to have this discussion, because like Becky (Wilkins) said, if we don’t have it, then the next item would be to pull that money out of reserves to finish this project, and that’s not a smart project to do with reserve money because reserve money is for emergency purposes, not building swimming pools.”

DeYoung asked for an update at the next meeting on current capital improvement fund allocations and projected expenditures.

Second attempt This was Hall’s second attempt to change the plan for the swim center, bringing a proposal to the Council in October 2019 with other options as well.

Hall presented a pair of alternate options to the Council for consideration that removed the splash pad and another that replaced the splash pad with a small children’s pool.

Ultimately, the Council voted to keep the previously approved design and to add a low fence and gate to divide the large pool from the splash pad area.

But before the item came up on the agenda, Parks Board Chair Mary Lyn Jones expressed her concern over any potential change to the plan.

“We have been planning the Swim Center for years, the residents of Liberty Hill have been looking forward to this for many more years,” Jones said. “It is frustrating to us as we see other projects going forward or positions and salaries put in front of our swim center. I’d just like for you to

consider what we put into it and what we planned.”

Hall thanked Jones for her passionate defense of the project, but said he wanted to discuss the issue once more before it was finalized.

“Excluding myself and Liz, from a Council standpoint, none of us have actually seen the design of the Swim Center we have right now,” Hall said. “Before we submit all the paperwork I want to have the Council look at this and review it. This is one of the last times we can make changes to it.”

Hall voiced his concern over the impact of older kids in the splash pad area on the safety of younger children.

In support of the Parks Board preference, Council members supported keeping the splash pad for a variety of reasons, and discussed the idea first

mentioned by Canady that a fence could be used to divide the two areas.

Project background The swim center project was first approved by the City Council in March 2017, but was delayed over a grant the City was seeking through Texas Parks & Wildlife to help defray the then-projected $1.2 million price tag.

“Everyone I have talked to has wanted one for a while,” said Hall at the June 18, 2019, groundbreaking. “So we’re going to try to build a swimming pool here shortly.”

The design is for a 4,350-square-foot pool that includes a zero-entry, a “tanning shelf”, and two lap lanes on the opposite end. The original design was for a slightly larger pool, but no swim lanes, but community members lobbied the Parks Board and Council

Thursday, July 16, 2020 members once the final design was presented to make adjustments that would include swim lanes for use by the high school swim team.

“We wanted to be good neighbors and partners and we wanted to address their needs, too,” said Jones at the groundbreaking. “So we had Halff redesign and put two laps lanes in.”

The original pool house design is roughly 1,300 square feet and is an open-air facility with restrooms, pavilion area and changing rooms. There would be no heating or air conditioning. The plan was to have restrooms and a potential vending area accessible year round. Plans also include fencing, shade structures, landscaping and grass areas surrounding the pool deck.

The pool became a priority when surveys of the commu-

nity showed it was the amenity most wanted in Liberty Hill.

The City was informed in late 2019 the $500,000 grant had been awarded from TPWD, but recently Hall said there were still some issues with the City’s match, which consisted of city-owned park land value.

“We’re still waiting for final approvals on the grant. We had to make some changes on the yellow book appraisal on the land we’re putting up as a match for the grant so we had to make that change and resubmit it. If we start bidding and awarding the project then we’re ineligible for the grant.

I’ve got to hold the project off until I get verification from TPWD that the grant has been approved and we’ve been issued the grant.”

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