HAPPY WE ARE CLOSED O N L A B O R D AY
2021
Volume 34, Issue 41
www.LHIndependent.com
LHISD cancels large indoor gatherings as COVID cases rise
By CHRISTIAN mentary with 30 students and BETANCOURT four staff. Staff Writer “Our numbers are high (at As COVID-19 cases increase LHMS),” said Snell. “We’re in Liberty Hill schools, the dis- concerned. We’re watching trict announced Sunday it is it and strongly encouraging canceling large indoor gather- mask-wearing and even more ings and strongly limiting encourvisitors “The COVID numbers are a g i n g to esfamilies very, very high in our sential to stay guests. community and our schools. h o m e “We if their We’re concerned.” follow child ~ Superintendent Steve Snell has any the data, and as sympcases increased, we get a little toms whatsoever.” more restrictive,” said LHISD Campus closures are not curSuperintendent Steve Snell. rently planned for the district, “Hopefully, this way, we’ll but Snell said it could be an go down soon, and we can get option if cases continue to rise. less restrictive. But right now, “Closing classrooms or a it looks like the cases in the grade level is always a possicounty and in our schools will bility,” he said. “We need the warrant us to be a little more community’s help because restrictive on visitors and gath- schools can’t do it alone. We erings.” look at the data all day long. According to the district’s Every case that rolls in, we online COVID-19 dashboard, look at how it’s connected to which tracks cases in the other cases at least three times schools, there have been 226 a day, we sit down and look at student cases reported and our cases and analyze the best 52 from staff as of press time steps to take going forward.” Wednesday. The majority of The Williamson County cases were reported at Lib- and Cities Health District erty Hill Middle School with reported 52,427 confirmed 76 students and eight staff, followed by Bill Burden EleSee COVID, Page 4
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September 2, 2021 | 50 Cents
WCESD#4 Commissioners approve budget, set tax rate in contentious 4-1 vote
By CHRISTIAN BETANCOURT Staff Writer It was near standing-room only at Monday’s meeting of the Williamson County Emergency Services District Commissioners as the panel met to adopt a budget and set a tax rate. Both on-duty and off-duty first responders awaited the approval of commissioners on a budget that included a change to the pay scale, which would mean a significant pay increase for some in the new fiscal year. The only objection to the plan came from board Vice President James Baker, who said the change in the step program was too costly. Previously, the steps were capped at 10 years, but Monday’s vote increased the cap to 20 years. “I can’t vote to approve this,” said Baker. “I hope I get outvoted. I think that is just insane. I’m sorry, I love you all.” Fire Chief Anthony Lincoln said about $150,000 in the budget would be used to bring the salaries up of six first responders. The most significant increase would be for one employee, who has been there 18 years. That person will receive a pay increase of $28,000.
CHRISTIAN BETANCOURT PHOTO
Williamson County Emergency Services District #4 Commissioners met Monday to approve a budget that includes a pay raise for first responders and set new tax rate. “As our tenure has moved up in the organization, we realized we were getting people capped,” Lincoln said. “We started looking at how we compared to similar cities and organizations. We are currently 34 percent of what Hutto is doing. Even under the new step plan, we’re still going to be struggling. We’re still going to be 15 percent behind them.” Baker addressed Lt. Jeff Foster, who was in the audience. Baker explained he had to do what he believed was right in his heart. “I’m fully aware of that,” responded Foster. “But you also
have to look at these other departments to be able to maintain and keep good people here, and we have to be able to move up the pay and pay them what they deserve. The step plan seems like a lot of big numbers. The majority of the department with that step plan is not getting a huge raise. It’s the people that have been here 10-plus years.” Baker interrupted Foster stating he worked at FedEx for 20 years and didn’t receive a raise every year. “We can’t compare to FedEx,” Foster replied. Baker said he believed the
change to the step program would be too costly for the department “I realize the fire services is different,” rebutted Baker. “I think this is just an awful lot of money all at once. I know we have the money.” Lincoln explained to the commissioners that the onetime cost of catching up was necessary to compete with pay scales in the area. “It’s a lot to absorb at one time, but that happens when you move into a new step plan,” he said.
See WCESD#4, Page 5
New Panther Band Director says he feels at home in Liberty Hill
By CHRISTIAN BETANCOURT Staff Writer New band and fine arts director Shawn Murphy said he’s finally found home after landing a job in Liberty Hill ISD. “Nowhere I’ve ever been, or anything I’ve ever done has felt as much as home as Liberty Hill does,” he said. “I have 20 years of experience at directing at this level.” Murphy said he’s been leading bands comprised of 140-200 students throughout his career, a level of participation the school will reach as the district grows.
“We just added 40 kids,” he said. “We’re looking to add the same amount next year. Here in the next few years, we will be in the 200-220 range. That’s probably where it will level off. We’ll be the little band at the contests. We’ll be the little guy that packs a punch. When we start adding more kids, then it’s going to be even better.” Murphy said he heard about the job from a friend who told him about what he called a “gold mine” in Liberty Hill. His decision to leave his position at Burleson Centennial High School came shortly after.
“He told me about the school and the kids,” he said. “He told me how they wanted to be really good, and they were struggling from going from a small school into a 5A school.” Making the transition to Liberty Hill was smooth. He said the response at Liberty Hill was one of the warmest he has received. “I’ve seen a bunch of different situations in the first few months,” he said. “Pretty much everybody here has trust and goes along with what I’m asking them to do. They give
CHRISTIAN BETANCOURT PHOTO
Liberty Hill ISD Fine Arts Director and Liberty Hill High School Head Band Director Shawn See MURPHY, Page 5 Murphy was hired in April to help the Panther band compete at the 5A level.
Police seeking two suspects for evading arrest after chase
By CHRISTIAN BETANCOURT Staff Writer The Liberty Hill Police Department is looking for two suspects who ran from police by WCESD#4 Fire Station #2 around 1 p.m. Tuesday after allegedly stealing a car in Austin. LHPD Chief Royce Graeter described the men as two white males, both 6 feet tall. One was last seen wearing a white shirt, black shorts, and a black backpack, while the other was wearing a red shirt. “We saturated the area after the initial encounter, and we never found them,” said Graeter. “(Officers) followed it around through the MorningStar subdivision, not chasing it, just following it through while ©2021 The Liberty Hill Independent
another officer got closer. (The vehicle) went behind the fire station, and then the two white male occupants bailed out and took off running toward a wooded area. An officer gave chase but couldn’t catch up with them. There was a little too much distance.” Graeter said other agencies assisted with the search but were unsuccessful. “We cordoned off the area and set up a good perimeter but were unable to find them in the helicopter,” he said. “We never saw them. So they must have been bedded down in that wooded area. We heavily saturated the area the rest of the evening, and we could never locate them.” Graeter said he believes the incident was connected to a string of burglaries, carjacking, and robberies in Austin that by chance ended up in Liberty Hill. “(The Austin Police Depart-
ment) sent their crime scene to process the car,” he said. “There was a weapon in the vehicle. They went ahead and took custody of the car and contents.” Graeter said he was unsure if the suspects were still in the area but believes the community at large is not in any danger, albeit he recommends citizens stay cautious. “We never found them during the night. So, they could be anywhere,” he said. “They may not be anywhere around here, but they could be. If anybody sees anything suspicious, call 9-1-1 and stay away and not approach these people. Keep your doors locked while you’re driving, and watch out for suspicious activity. Also, they need to keep their vehicles locked at night. That’s how criminals get weapons most of the time. They’re left in the vehicle, and it’s left unsecured.” The search Tuesday caused
Santa Rita Middle School to go into ‘Secure’ protocol. No children were affected, and dismissal at the school and routine operations were not disrupted. “When in ‘Secure’ protocol, students are to remain inside the school building, and all exterior doors are locked,” stated a now-deleted post on SRMS Facebook page. “Currently, we have secured students and staff inside their building for their safety. Liberty Hill ISD police officers are securing the perimeter, and at this time we expect a normal dismissal.” In an email sent by SRMS Principal Josh Curtis to parents and obtained by The Independent, he said the school was notified of the chase, but business continued as usual at the school “There is a police presence in the area, but there is no
See CHASE, Page 5
Crash claims life of local girl while mother remains in critical condition
From Staff Reports The community is grieving the loss this week of Payton Schrock, 10, who passed away Saturday following a collision in Blanco County as she and her mother were en route to a youth football game. Her mother, Kim Schrock, a teacher at Liberty Hill Middle School, remains in critican condition. Liberty Hill Independent Superintendent Steve Snell said the school community is grieving. “The community is just heartbroken for the entire family,” he said. “Thankfully, this is a great community, and they have lots of friends. I know there is a meal train to help support the family and a fundraiser Saturday, and, of course, the district is there to help in any way the family might need.” Snell said Kim Schrock
works with sixth graders, and the school offered grief counseling for students and staff this week. “The district social workers, counselors, and administration got together to provide any grief counseling that might be needed by students or even the staff,” he said. “Our staff is heartbroken and are grieving as well. We will continue with that plan for as long as it’s needed.” Payton was a cheerleader with Liberty Hill Youth Football & Cheer, and the organization stated the family was en route to a youth football game that morning. Texas Department of Public Safety Media Communications & Safety Education Sgt. Deon Cockrell said Troopers responded to a single rollover crash on U.S. Hwy 290, near
See CRASH, Page 3