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2021
Volume 34, Issue 36
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July 29, 2021 | 50 Cents
RACHEL MADISON PHOTO
John Byrum, director of planning for the City of Liberty Hill, looks forward to his new role in fostering the growth across the city.
New Planner aims to make department well-rounded
By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer John Byrum has been a part of the City of Liberty Hill’s planning department for just three months, but already he has established some big goals for himself and the department. Byrum grew up in Harlingen, and as a teen he didn’t
know exactly what he wanted to do, but he watched his dad serve the city as a police officer and always thought working for a city would be a good career. After earning a degree in geography from The University of Oklahoma in 2015, he was researching
See BYRUM, Page 3
Snakes Alive!
SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO
Michael Foux of Austin Reptile Shows displays a boa constrictor during a presentation at the Liberty Hill Public Library as part of the library’s Summer Reading Program. The show, sponsored by The Liberty Hill Independent, featured a variety of reptiles, including snakes, lizards and tortoises during one of two hour-long shows Wednesday.
Commercial development remains constant New mixed-use development to bring fast-food restaurants, retail center and more
By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer Commercial development projects are carrying on across Liberty Hill, with several reaching completion and others just getting started, like the Stonewall Crossing project that broke ground earlier this month. Stonewall Crossing is located on the corner of State Hwy 29 and Stonewall Parkway, at the entrance of the Stonewall Ranch subdivision. Rockspring acquired 16 acres of land there for a mixed-use development in 2019. “We immediately recognized the potential Liberty Hill had to offer when researching the area a few years back, given its explosive growth and underserved retail services. For us, it was a no-brainer,” said Michael Ross, president of Rockspring. “We utilized every aspect of Rockspring’s services to get our vision off the ground, and our hard work is now paying
off with nationally-recognized businesses quickly populating the property.” Ross said Rockspring is targeting fast-casual restaurants to diversify Liberty Hill’s dining scene. Rockspring is currently under contract with at least four national quick service restaurants—two of which will be on the east side of Stonewall Parkway and two will be on the west side, adjacent to Circle K and Auto Zone. A car service chain has also signed on to build behind Auto Zone. “Additionally, we broke ground mid-July on an 11,000-square-foot retail center to serve the local community and support the exponential population growth Liberty Hill has already been experiencing over the past decade,” Ross said. No businesses for the retail center have been announced A graphic rendering of the proposed Stonewall Crossing project on SH 29 in Liberty Hill shows a retail center and multiple locations for fast-casual restaurants. Developer Rockspring is clearing 16 acres at the location now for the mixed-use development. See DEVELOPMENT, Page 5 (Courtesy Graphic)
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Nearly 200 young, aspiring Liberty Hill football players participated in the Panthers’ annual football camp and over the course of the three-day event were schooled in fundamentals of the game such as blocking, tackling and the like.
But, there’s one thing Liberty Hill head coach Kent Walker wants them to take away from the experience more than anything else. “I want them to have fun,” he said. “Because it’s fun for me whenever I have a football out.” The camp was held for sixth through ninth-graders at Panther Stadium where some from the latter group may be contributing as early as this season, said Walker. “We have 80-plus freshmen signed up already this year,” he
Football camp focuses on fun, while stressing the fundamentals
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said. “We don’t cut kids and we have the ability to find games for them – that’s fine with me – the more the merrier.” According to Walker, the camp provides an opportunity for the incoming freshmen to experience some of what it’s going to be like when they begin the everyday grind of being a high school football player for the Purple-and-Gold. “This gives them a head start on our two-a-days,” said Walker. “We also run some basic SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO
See FOOTBALL, Page 6 Participants at the annual Panthers football camp line up for the 40-yard dash.