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2020
Volume 33, Issue 24
www.LHIndependent.com
Brewer retiring after 33 years
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer For over a decade, the presence of assistant principal Shellie Brewer has remained a constant in the halls of Liberty Hill Elementary. For 33 years, Brewer has remained a presence in the world of education. As the school year comes to an end, so does the veteran educator’s long and accomplished career. After more than three decades, Brewer is retiring. “It’s so hard to put into words the blessing of having a family as I have in Liberty Hill, they’re just so amazing,” Brewer said. Brewer began her career in the small town of Springtown, Texas, in 1986, the first of three school districts where the longtime educator would work. “I had some great first grade teachers that helped me grow there (Springtown),” she said. “From there, I had the opportunity to work in Eastland, Texas, and I guess that’s where I found the gift of leadership. I was allowed to lead a teachers’ organization there. I realized that I liked being able to make a difference.” With offers from both Liberty
Liberty Hill Elementary Assistant Principal Shellie Brewer. Brewer is retiring after working 33 years as an educator for three school districts. (Courtesy Photo) Hill and Pflugerville, Brewer, not realizing it would be her home for over a decade, chose Liberty Hill. “I received a job offer from Pflugerville, but Liberty Hill was just tugging at my heart,” she said. “I don’t know why, but it was.” Before working her way up the ladder, Brewer began her
See BREWER, Page 10
Katie Ann Prescott was named Liberty Hill Junior High Teacher of the Year. In the photo above, Prescott (right) welcomed former astronaut Daniel Bursch for an event at the school along with Liberty Hill ISD Superintendent Steve Snell and LHJH Principal Travis Motal earlier this year. (Courtesy Photo)
Passion for written word drives librarian
LHJH teacher finds new calling among bookshelves
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Katie Ann Prescott has a passion for words. To be more particular, the written word and the books they compose. So, when the teacher-turned-librarian is surrounded by thousands of bound tomes in the library at Liberty Hill Junior High School, she’s right in her element. Prescott was named the school’s Teacher of the Year in her first full school year after – ironically enough – switching over from teaching ninthgrade English Language Arts for 12 years, a move that was predicated on her passion and a natural progression when the chance appeared to have the best of both worlds. “I chose a career in education because I wanted to serve others. I wanted to make a differ©2020 The Liberty Hill Independent
ence every day and education afforded me that opportunity. I had always loved working with children and becoming a teacher was a natural course for me to take,” said Prescott, who taught in Leander before moving to Liberty Hill this school year. “When I decided to change careers and become a librarian, I wanted to do so because the reading aspect of being an ELA teacher always was my passion. Matching kids to the right book, engaging in powerful discussions about the novels they were reading, sharing book recommendations, igniting a kid’s love of reading – this was always my favorite part of teaching and now I get to do this every single day as a librarian.” In her newfound position, Prescott is able to have a more wide-ranging relationship with the entire student body, as well as her peer group and her interaction with community members, she said. “Serving as the LHJH librarian allows me the unique
See PRESCOTT, Page 5
News@LHIndependent.com
May 7, 2020 | 50 Cents
Campbell files grievance with City
By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Former Liberty Hill Police Chief Maverick Campbell has filed a grievance with the City, seeking reinstatement following his March 9 termination. The grievance was filed April 9 -- one month after Campbell was terminated without public explanation by the City Council. “The grievance seeks that he be reinstated,” said Campbell’s attorney Tiger Hanner. “He shouldn’t have been terminated and they violated his contract as it is. Ultimately that’s the request in the grievance that it be investigated and he be reinstated.” In the motion to terminate Campbell on March 9, the Council cited Section 13 of his contract, which spells out the causes for termination, including “willful misconduct, gross negligence, dishonest
or fraudulent conduct, or such other acts in bad faith which result in injury to employer.” No further explanation was provided, but on March 11, the City provided documents alleging misconduct by Campbell during a conference in New Jersey in late February. But interpretations of the details of the incident and how the City’s own investigation of Campbell – which led to his termination – was conducted have left questions unanswered. Hanner said that at no time did the Council speak to Campbell about the incident. Hanner said he did not get a response to the grievance until he was informed by the City on April 30 that an independent investigator was being hired. It was the first response he had received from the City regarding the
See GRIEVANCE, Page 8
LHI FILE PHOTO
Maverick Campbell, who was terminated as police chief by the City Council on March 9, has filed a grievance at City Hall requesting reinstatement.
BERTRAM
Restaurant owner goes above, beyond for his community
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor BERTRAM -- Al Redzematovic felt a need to help. The Bertram restaurant owner knew he couldn’t simply sit on the sidelines when the entire world – but, even more importantly, his own community – was busy battling the COVID-19 outbreak. So, he decided to do something about it. “One of the things we’re still doing from the first day of the coronavirus breakout was to offer anyone who was struggling financially, or have lost their job an opportunity to order food for no charge,” said Redzematovic, who owns Mambo Italiano Ristorante and Fratelli Pizza in Bertram. “All they have to do is let us know how many members are in their household and we will provide enough to get them through that day and they can do that each day, no questions asked. We’re blessed we’ve been able to have helped a lots of families – they give us a chance to be blessed by ordering and we do our best
Al Redzematovic, who owns a pair of restaurants in Bertram has offered free meals, as well as flour and cooking oil to community members in need during the pandemic. (Courtesy Photo) to make them comfortable by “We also provided to all could afford them or not, so doing so because we should all who were in need of flour and that helped a lot of people and be the same in this situation.” cooking oil because during we were very happy with the However, it’s more than the first few weeks those were outcome.” ready-made food that Redzem- the items you couldn’t find See GIVING, Page 4 atovic has offered. in stores regardless of if you
EDC talks grants, interim director
By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation (EDC) briefly discussed an outline of a new grant program focused on business impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but plans won’t be finalized until the board’s May meeting. The basic outline of the proposal would be to take $100,000 of EDC funds and make available up to 20 grants for up to $5,000 each for local businesses. “What this is is we are going to be setting aside $100,000 out of the EDC coffers to help businesses in Liberty Hill that have been effected by the Coronavirus,” said Board President Johnny Johnston. “The Board will review the applications. We have no responsibility to automatically give anybody any money at
all. We can flat refuse to do pact of COVID-19. that or we can decide to cut “We have the total discretion the amount from $5,000 to in giving out this money and between $0 and $5,000.” they have to provide docuThe draft criteria stipulates mentation of why they need it to be eligible a business must and how they’ve been affecthave 50 or fewer em- “We have no responsibility to autoployees, have matically give anybody any money a publicly at all. We can flat refuse to do that accessible loor we can decide to cut the amount cation within from $5,000 to between $0 and the corporate limits of $5,000.” Liberty Hill, ~ Johnny Johnston must not be EDC Board President home-based, have been in continuous operation over ed,” Johnston said. “There’s the previous 12 months, in a whole laundry list of quesgood standing with the City tions they’re asked and reregarding fees and financial quired to fill out. If they don’t obligations, and must provide fill it out in total then we autoa current sales tax certificate. matically reject it.” Businesses must also demonThough no decision was strate current or anticipated voted on regarding the applideclining revenue beginning cation or eligibility, Johnston March 1, 2020, due to the im- said it would focus on local
businesses. “It is not for big corporations or anything like that,” he said. There were a few questions raised by board members, though, including Council member Liz Rundzieher wanting more specifics on which businesses would be eligible. Board member Jamie Etzkorn also questioned the time period a business had to be open to qualify for assistance. “My only concern is that we have had so many retail businesses and restaurants open within the last eight months that if we put they had to have been in business one year that we could potentially lose some really great businesses here in Liberty Hill,” Etzkorn said. “I think we may need to think about that.” With details needing to be
See EDC, Page 5