September 2025 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

BIZ BRIEFS:

What’s New?

Latest business news and what’s coming soon to Liberty Hill

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Wish Kitchen + Bar

1004 Main St., Liberty Hill

Wish Kitchen + Bar is opening in downtown Liberty Hill in September. The new restaurant promises to offer amazing food, craft cocktails and a lively hangout with a tagline of "Taste the Wish, Savor the Fun."

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• Marco's Pizza

1892 Hwy. 183, Leander

RETAIL

Liberty Hill Locksmith

13997 Hwy. 29, Ste. 2, Liberty Hill Heath and Danielle Gallon opened Liberty Hill Locksmith this month. The family-owned and operated locksmith company offers in store and after hour mobile service. They also make nearly all auto keys and fobs, most motorcycle keys, and can open safes and unlock all things with a lock.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• Gridiron Drip

Online, Liberty Hill

• Simply Pressed Designs

Online, Liberty Hill

• Liberty Hill Shopping Center

40 N. Hwy. 183, Liberty Hill

SERVICES

Blue Oak Academy

Liberty Hill

Blue Oak Academy, a small, private school designed to provide a more personalized educational experience, is open for the 2025–2026 school year. With intentionally limited class sizes, the academy ensures students receive more one-onone attention from instructors in a nurturing and engaging environment. To celebrate the launch of their inaugural year, the academy is hosting an event Sept. 29 at 9 a.m., which will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Scout Guide Williamson County

The Scout Guide, a national publication that showcases and supports small businesses through print and digital storytelling, is proud to announce its newest addition: The Scout Guide Wilco, led by Liberty Hill resident Erika Waters. Waters brings over a decade of professional marketing experience to her new role. The Scout Guide Wilco will spotlight the area’s most inspiring local businesses, artisans, and entrepreneurs through a curated print guide, digital content and social media.

Gable to Ground Mobile, Liberty Hill

Gable to Ground Home Inspections is opening to serve Liberty Hill and surrounding areas. Offering licensed and experienced inspections for new homes, phase inspections, pre-listing,

older homes, sewer scopes and more, Gable to Ground is here to provide professional and timely service and same-day reports. Learn more at gabletoground. com.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids

2021 Kauffman Loop, Liberty Hill

• Dr. Harris Dental Office

2021 Kauffman Loop, Liberty Hill

• Auer's RV Repair

6540 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

• Down Home Speech

Online, Liberty Hill

• B3 Dance

101 Jonathan Dr., #5, Liberty Hill

• Wiggly Wonderland

Mobile, Liberty Hill

• Black Diamond Automation

225 CR 214, Ste. 110, Liberty Hill

• Guardian Paws Animal Hospital

2021 Kauffman Loop, Liberty Hill

• Kaavi's Kingdom Home Daycare

Santa Rita Ranch, Liberty Hill

• Hill Country Landscaping & Nursery

203 W. Myrtle Ln., Liberty Hill

• Mathnasium of Liberty Hill

19388 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Leander

• Texas Botox Boots & Beauty

Mobile, Liberty Hill

• Toss It Dumpsters

1107 CR 264, Bldg. 5, Bertram

ON THE MOVE

WilCo Women's Center

2308 Old Airport Rd., Georgetown

The Pregnancy Resource Center of Williamson County rebranded to the WilCo Women's Center in August in an effort to reach more women facing unexpected pregnancy in the community and expand outreach.

GT Insurance Services

402 Forrest St., Liberty Hill

GT Insurance Services celebrated 10 years in business in Liberty Hill in August.

Elyssa Seibel, Liberty Hill

School of Music

3608 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

Elyssa Seibel is the newest

instructor at the Liberty Hill School of Music. Seibel has over 20 years of experience in performing and teaching the violin.

Jon Choate, Brakes Plus

12336 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

Jon Choate is the new general manager at Brakes Plus. He and his family have been a part of the Liberty Hill community for nearly a decade. Brakes Plus is a full-service automotive shop.

Taqueria El Gym

1017 Main St., Liberty Hill

Taqueria El Gym, located inside Parker's, closed its doors permanently in late July.

Jesse Opela, Liberty Hill Counseling Center

201 St. Joseph Court, Liberty Hill

Jesse Opela recently joined the team at Liberty Hill Counseling Center. He is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who will offer inhouse medication management for clients.

Panther Storage and Parking

15725 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

Panther Storage and Parking closed in July 2025. It has been rebranded and reopened as Extra Space Storage.

Anna Hilderbrand, Radiant Salon

2921 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

Anna Hilderbrand is the newest stylist to join the ranks at Radiant Salon. She specializes in balayage, dimension and custom coloring.

The Powder Room Blow Dry Bar + Salon

14001 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

The Powder Room celebrated

its third year in business in mid-August. The blow dry bar has expanded since opening to include salon services as well as a boutique.

Allyson Sledge, Lone Star Performance Academy

12780 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

Allyson Sledge is the newest instructor at Lone Star Performance Academy. Sledge has over 10 years in experience in various dance styles, including jazz, hip-hop and contemporary.

F3 Coffee and Tea

14251 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

F3 Coffee and Tea announced in mid-August it would be closing its beverage truck permanently.

Nick Hadley, Liberty Hill Physician Associates/Ascension

14365 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

Nick Hadley, DO, is the new family medicine doctor at Liberty Hill Physician Associates/Ascension. He offers care for the whole family, including annual checkups, physicals and sick visits.

Justin Eternick, Divine Savior Academy

23857 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Liberty Hill

Justin Eternick is the new dean of students at Divine Savior Academy. Eternick said the school structure and dedication to Christian education are what drew him to DSA.

Jesse Opela

Library Hours:

Mon-Thurs: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: 10:00am-7:00 pm 10:00am-5:00 pm 9:00am-4:00 pm 1:00-5:00 pm

Interested in volunteering?

If you're 14 or older—or a member of NJHS/NHS—you can help with events and programs.

Attend one of our teen volunteer orientations

Wednesday, September 3 - 7:00 pm

Sunday, September 7 - 5:00 pm

Call 512-778-6400 or email margaret.wofford@lhpl.org for more information

Final Team Standings

Storytime Storytime

WEDNESDAYS WEDNESDAYS

AFTER SCHOOL CRAFTS AFTER SCHOOL CR AFTS

(Perler bea ds, Keychains, Seed Bombs, STEM) (Perler bea ds, Keychains, Seed Bombs, STEM)

SEPTEMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 9

(AGES 13+) (AGES 13+)

SEPTEMBER 18 SEPTEMBER 18

GET CRAFT Y: TEEN HOUR - DIY CHIA PETS

GET CR AFT Y: TEEN HOUR - DIY CHIA PETS

(AGES 13-18 PREREGIST RATION REQUIRED) (AGES PREREGIST R ATION REQUIRED)

We asked you to Be a Wild Rea deryou said, “Hold my library card.”

Big Cats 2,793 LOGS 698,250 MINUTES

CROCODILES 2,768 LOGS 692,000 MINUTES

SHORCAS 2,694 LOGS 673,500 MINUTES

EAGLES 2,527 LOGS 631,750 MINUTES

Parti cipants-

Kids: 2054 turned in 10,782 logs

Teens: 203 rea d 1,145 books

Ad u lts: 509 rea d 2,332 books

Total Parti cipants: 2766 total Program attendance 67 Total Visitors 19,809 2,695,500 TOTAL MINUTES RE

Our 2025 Summer Reading adventure was full of wild programs, big performances, and epic library fun. Thanks for exploring with us! Check out the “roaring” results from this year ’s journey. ttenda , 6

h nf

Tuesdays & Fridays Tuesdays & Fridays Check pl.org for more formation!

10:15-11:00 AM 10:15-11:00 AM

7:00-8:30 PM 7:00-8:30 PM 3:30-6:00 PM 3:30-6:00 PM

City bets on advanced water purification facility for reliable alternative

BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER

There’s no denying water is on a short list of precious commodities that have a questionable future regarding both their availability and quality, particularly in Liberty Hill.

In order to give water a better a future, the City of Liberty Hill has decided to take steps toward the development of its own advanced water purification facility through a program called Pure Water LHTX.

Once operational, the facility aims to reduce Liberty Hill’s dependence on purchased surface water from Lake Travis and in turn give the city a much more reliable and resilient source of water, keeping it years ahead of what will likely be an increasing demand for many years to come.

The city is set to test two different treatment processes – Traditional Advanced Treatment and Carbon-Based Advanced Treatment. Both uniquely robust, they are proven treatments that are already utilized in cities and municipalities across the country. With the land already procured and an application filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality – both of which took place in 2024 – the city’s next step is to build the pilot facility, which will ultimately determine which process will be adopted, with a larger full-scale facility to follow.

The city hopes to have the pilot facility constructed and ready to test by January 2026. Once the best process for the city has been chosen, they will then embark on a three-tofour-year process of designing and building the full-scale facility.

As things typically go in a small-but-grow-

ing town that faces one growing pain after another, this concept has not been without controversy and pushback from the community.

From the messy procurement of the 70-acre parcel of land that the facility will call home, located on County Road 266 south of State Highway 29, to the many members of the community feeling as if this project was kept from the public eye for far too long, there has been a growing number of concerned citizens showing up and speaking out at city council meetings and in other settings.

Whether the timing was related or not, the city held a town hall meeting in August that featured an in-depth explanation of the treatment options that are on the table along with many other answers concerned citizens longed for.

There were the obvious questions that revolved around the fact that, in essence, the water this facility will eventually produce will have started its journey at the wastewater treatment plant just upstream. Though it will likely require continued education for the foreseeable future, many experts were on hand to both explain and demonstrate just how pure the water will be once it leaves the advanced water purification facility. The audience was also reminded the process will have to pass many strenuous state and federal safety and quality tests before it is deemed acceptable to use.

Another common question was about what will happen to the city’s existing water sources and those key relationships with other municipalities that the city depends on today. There were multiple experts on hand that made it clear that those relationships will remain

intact so that the city avoids putting all its eggs in one basket and has backup options when needed. According to some of the officials, the tables could likely turn and those the city now buys water from will end up buying from them.

James Herrera, the city’s assistant public works director, summed it up as a major collaborative effort that will set the city of Liberty Hill up for an unprecedented level of resiliency and self-reliance in terms of its water supply.

“What we’re doing here – nobody’s done on this scale,” said Herrera. “We’ve got a really great team – our wastewater operators, our water operators, bringing our new director on board and all the others involved – we’ve got about 30 people making decisions on what this is going to look like. If we’re going to do this, let’s do it right.”

The biggest pushback – and some even bigger questions, so far – have been from the Wildleaf subdivision, which backs up to the land the city procured to build the facility upon. In their eyes, the city could have been more transparent in the beginning stages of this study and eventual pilot program, especially regarding just what type of facility this is going to be.

Given that the South Fork Wastewater Treatment Plant has brought its fair share of woes to the Grayson neighborhood next door, the residents of Wildleaf feared they would soon experience the same. But as the city has come forth with the specifics of the program, those fears have been put to rest – at least for now.

Spencer Blandon, a homeowner in the

Wildleaf neighborhood, went from preparing for a fight for answers to now fighting for those who currently hold office in the city government.

“We think this plant is actually OK,” he said after many in-depth conversations with Mayor Crystal Mancilla and other city council members. “And we want to be good neighbors to the other half of Liberty Hill. Right now, we have some city council members that we think care about our side of town and we think we have a mayor we can trust that wouldn’t ever build a nuisance of a facility behind our community. So, the fight now is how we continue to elect officials like the ones we have now that care about the people in this city.”

This project has been a wake-up call for residents like Blandon. With a heightened awareness of due process and the power of their votes, there will be some watchful eyes on this and other projects as they progress through time.

For the city, this has likely proven that transparency is the best practice when looking to garner support from its residents and supporters alike. The results will be a loyal constituency that will help this small town flourish for decades to come, no matter the challenges that come its way.

“Our goal now is: How can we, the east side of Liberty Hill, take it on ourselves to be more involved and get out and vote?” he said. “That’s how I left the meeting thinking. It wasn’t, ‘We need to keep fighting this’ – it was, ‘How do we continue to support officials like this in our community?’”

For more information on the Pure Water LHTX initiative, visit purewaterlhtx.org.

Residents and business owners alike attended a town hall event in August to learn more about Liberty Hill’s Advanced Water Purification Facility project. PHOTO BY BRAD MARTIN

Liberty Hill’s Pure Water LHTX initiative has been unveiled to the public as they inch closer to bringing a purification facility online by 2030. PHOTO BY BRAD MARTIN

Tax rate increase put on ballot by school board

Passage of Prop A would help alleviate LHISD’s budget crisis

BY JACE BRAZIEL STAFF WRITER

During the August meeting of the Liberty Hill Independent School District’s Board of Trustees, Proposition A, which will be put on the ballot this November, was voted unanimously in favor of. Should it pass, the tax rate collected by the school district would increase by $0.07, bringing the total combined district tax rate to $1.2389 per $100.

“We’re standing at kind of a crossroad right now,” said Board President Megan Parsons about the future of the district.

The combined tax rate is a total of the maintenance and operations (M&O) tax and the interest and sinking (I&S) tax.

Funding gathered from the M&O portion of the tax goes toward day-to-day operations of the district – salaries for staff, utility payments and a myriad of other expenditures that running 11 schools entails.

I&S tax is earmarked only for debt payments, such as paying off bonds sold to fund major projects such as new schools.

Prop A does not include an increase to the I&S tax rate, which will continue to hold steady at $0.50. This means that all revenue generated from the proposed tax increase would go directly to funding school programs, should it pass.

Interim Superintendent Travis Motal explained the reasoning behind the decision.

“Where does the need for an increased tax rate come from? This past fall, in November 2024, the board had to go in and adopt a $7.5 million budget deficit,” he said. “That was due to the number of students that continued to enroll in Liberty Hill ISD and the expenses that come with that, along with inflationary costs that are continuing to rise.”

Budget shortfalls largely stem from state legislation. Across the state, districts are granted allotments to fund certain programs. The school safety allotment, for example, is meant to provide funding for campus safety and security and is earmarked for exactly that purpose. But the state’s allotment does not cover the full cost, and as such, the district is liable to cover the difference.

“What that leads to is additional underfunded mandates by the state for school dis-

tricts,” said Chief Financial Officer Rosanna Guerrero.

With every new student comes new expenses for the district, as they are obligated by law to tend to the educational needs of each and every student who enrolls. And with the number of students enrolling each year estimated to be between 900 and 1,000, the cost of fulfilling that obligation rises significantly.

For eight consecutive years, the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas has awarded LHISD the highest possible financial rating, highlighting the district’s ability to efficiently allocate taxpayer funds and maintain a balanced budget. Maintaining a balanced budget comes at a cost, though, and in this past year alone, significant cuts had to be made to achieve that goal. In January 2025, campus and department budgets were cut by about $2 million mid-school year. In March 2025, an additional $6 million in cuts for the 2025-2026 school year had to be made, including staffing cuts.

“The tough thing about making that decision, is the work those positions were doing is still there,” Motal said. “So that work now has to be absorbed by everybody else that is still there – primarily on the backs of our classroom teachers.”

In November 2024, a similar tax ratification proposal was struck down by voters in a razor-thin margin – less than 300 votes. This year, the district is hopeful that increasing awareness about the proposal will make up the difference, said Motal.

“The more information we can directly share with our voters, the more helpful that will be,” he said.

Parsons said the local educational landscape has already been adversely affected by the current deficit.

“The community is feeling the effects of that failing last year and the cuts [the district] had to make to balance the budget,” she said.

Should Prop A pass in November, the district would see a budget surplus of $10.9 million, said Guerrero.

“The funds generated through the tax ratification would be used to restore what was lost in the past two years through budget cuts and realized deficits,” she said.

The lion’s share of the surplus – $7.4 million – would be used to restore support for

student programs. Departments that were previously cut, like the gifted and talented, STEM and library departments, would see renewed support. Class sizes would be reduced and campus staffing budgets would be restored. The remainder of the surplus would be allocated toward campus safety and security, as well as staff recruitment and retention.

What would the tax burden on the average homeowner look like? Should the Williamson County Appraisal District exercise the maximum 10 percent increase in property value, taken with proposed increase of $140,000 to the homestead exemption, the estimated tax burden on the median household would come out to $348 per year. This averages to just under $1 per day.

Guerrero said if the proposition doesn’t pass, the district estimates around $4 million in additional cuts may be necessary to maintain a balanced budget.

“Possibilities for cuts are being considered,” she said. “Included are not opening Legacy Ranch Middle School, not opening the new elementary school in Lariat, a reduction in transportation routes, a further increase in class sizes, shared staff between campuses (school resource officers, nurses, counselors, assistant principals, instructional coaches) and instituting paying to participate in extracurricular activities.”

Increases in class sizes for the 2025-2026 school year alone put the average class size for third grade and fourth grade at

23 students per teacher, one higher than the state’s maximum classroom size of 22 students per teacher. There is no defined cap for classroom maximums for grades beyond elementary. However, the district will exceed the average Texas post-elementary classroom sizes of 20-to-1 across every grade level – 25-to-1 for fifth grade through eighth grade, and 27-to-1 for ninth grade through 12th grade.

Another avenue for gathering the necessary funds for monthly expenses includes taking out operational loans, which the district hopes to avoid at all costs.

However, with less than two months of operating expenditures in the fund balance, they may be forced to take out operational loans in order to cover monthly expenses such as payroll and utilities.

In 2011, the district made the decision to take on such loans in order to avoid layoffs and it took until 2024 to finish paying them off. Should the district take on loans now, it would likely affect its finances for a decade or more to come.

Parsons said decisions need to be made to ensure the district can continue providing the highest quality in education.

“Our community has to decide if we’re going to step up and help our district continue to be the high-performing district that people move here for,” she said.

More information about LHISD’s budget and the tax ratification election (Prop A) can be found at LHvotes.com.

Liberty Hill ISD Chief Financial Officer Rosanna Guerrero, Interim Superintendent Travis Motal and Board of Trustees President Megan Parsons answered questions regarding Proposition A during a press conference in August. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

A life of service, a community of support

Liberty Hill rallies around LHISD police officer DJ Lahr

BY LESHELLE VALLEJO STAFF WRITER

When you talk to anyone in Liberty Hill about DJ Lahr, police officer for Liberty Hill Independent School District, one theme is clear: He has always been someone who gives back.

Whether it was serving in the military, patrolling the streets of Austin as a police officer and K-9 handler, or walking the halls of LHISD as a school resource officer, Lahr has spent his life protecting, serving and uplifting others.

Now, as he faces one of the toughest battles of his life – a diagnosis of brain cancer – the community is returning that love and loyalty in full force.

Lahr’s resume of service spans more than three decades.

After his time in the military, he joined the Austin Police Department (APD), where he not only served for over 30 years,

but also founded the department’s K-9 program. His leadership and skill left a lasting legacy for the APD, where he became known for his loyalty, discipline and dedication.

His professional journey has been intertwined for decades with LHISD Police

Chief Chris Rybarski, who has known Lahr for nearly 27 years. Their friendship and mutual respect run deep.

When Rybarski was looking to expand the district’s school resource officer program, he saw Lahr as the perfect fit.

“DJ is hardworking, dependable and the kind of person who would do anything for anyone,” Rybarski said. “If you told him you were cold, he’d give you his jacket and be the one left shivering. That’s just who he is. I wish I could have 20 of him.”

Rybarski also described Lahr as a super dad and grandfather, the glue for his family and the kind of man you want to be around.

“He’s been that way since the day I met him,” he added.

Even now, in the middle of his own fight, Lahr’s selflessness shines through.

On the first day of school this year, he reached out to Rybarski – not to talk about himself, but to check on Rybarski’s kids.

“That’s the type of person he is,” Rybarski said. “He’s always asking about other people.”

When Lahr’s diagnosis was announced, Liberty Hill stepped up.

The Liberty Hill Youth Football and Cheer (LRYFC) organization has been a driving force in rallying support.

Every player in the youth league this season is wearing a “Team DJ”helmet decal, ensuring that Lahr’s service and courage are carried onto the field week after week.

The organization also inspired Legacy Ranch Youth Football and Cheer to do the same.

LRYFC also hosted a shirt fundraiser with proceeds going directly to the Lahr family. The board is also considering donating entry fees from an entire game to further support him.

“DJ has given so much of himself, not just to Liberty Hill, but to Austin, to the military, to anyone lucky enough to know him,” said Jared Retkofsky, LHYFC president and fellow K-9 handler. “This is our way of saying we see you, we appreciate you and you’re not alone.”

Despite the seriousness of his diagnosis, those who know Lahr will tell you he’s still the same person – hilarious, quick-witted and always more concerned about others

than himself.

At a recent benefit held in his honor, attendees expected tears and solemn speeches.

Instead, they got laughter.

“DJ spent the whole-time making people laugh,” Retkofsky said. “That’s just who he is. Even in the middle of his own battle, he’s focused on lifting others up.”

That sense of humor, combined with humility and compassion, has endeared him to everyone he’s encountered – from his police colleagues to LHISD students who saw him as more than an officer, but as a mentor and a friend.

As a school resource officer, Lahr wasn’t just a uniform in the hallways – he was a trusted figure who students and staff looked to for reassurance, guidance and a smile.

His impact continues to be felt even as he steps away from the job to focus on his health.

In Liberty Hill, football has always been more than a game – it’s a reflection of community, perseverance and pride.

This season, every time a player takes the field wearing a “Team DJ” decal, it will serve as a reminder of the strength and unity that define the town.

As donations pour in and neighbors continue organizing fundraisers, one message rings clear: DJ Lahr will not fight this battle alone.

“DJ has always had our backs,” Retkofsky said. “Now it’s our turn to have his.”

Those interested in donating to Lahr and his family may do so through Venmo (@Tracey-Lahr).

LHISD police officer DJ Lahr, center, was recently diagnosed with brain cancer. COURTESY PHOTO

LHISD police officer DJ Lahr has received an outpouring of support from the community following his diagnosis of brain cancer, including a benefit recently held in his honor. COURTESY PHOTO

Restoring hope through innovation

Local man helps develop reliable flood warning system

BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER

On July 4, 2025, Liberty Hill resident Ian Cunningham was an airline pilot, a former U.S. Navy officer and aviator and a loving husband and father. On July 5, 2025, however, all that changed. Though none of the aforementioned titles were shed, a purpose was awakened deep inside of him as he watched in horror while the Independence Day floods took their devastating toll on Central Texas. Suddenly, things got personal.

“I didn’t even think about this stuff before July 5, honestly,” he said. “The real drive for this is that I have two daughters and they were at Camp Pine Cove two weeks prior to the floods. It’s only by pure circumstance my kids weren’t out there. So, that was a lot of it – what if it were my two daughters? I can’t even think about that.”

With a long history of solving incredibly complex problems, o en while under intense pressure, Cunningham began studying the floods. The where, when and why occupied his every thought as he took a deep dive into not only the recent floods, but other major flooding events such as those that took place in Central Texas in 2015 and 1987. As the data was gathered and the weeds were pulled from the fruit-bearing information, a clear pa ern stood front and center and the common denominator soon had his wheels turning.

of sleeping pa erns. If there’s one thing a pilot needs most – it’s proper sleep. He spoke of the “deadly window” regarding the timing of a flood event as it relates to sleep.

From 2:30 to 6:30 a.m., the body is in a state called the “circadian low,” which is when the deepest REM sleep occurs. Though this is an absolute necessity for health and longevity, it’s also the hardest time of the morning for one to wake up. When flood waters rise as quickly as they recently did overnight, this is a recipe for tragedy.

So, Cunningham looked at the ingredients and just like fire is only possible with all three ingredients – fuel, heat and oxygen – it became clear one of the ingredients in a flood tragedy had to go. Knowing rising flood waters can’t be stopped and a person’s proximity to the water’s edge can’t be changed if they’re asleep, the solution became clear.

“So, you have to solve the sleep issue first,” he said. “That’s job number one in any system that gets deployed.”

The “system” that Cunningham referred to is the River Sentry Flood Warning System, a product born from tragedy, but with real promise to save countless lives when the next flood event makes its way to Central Texas.

Ian Cunningham, founder of River Sentry Flood Warning, is on a personal mission to prevent the immeasurable loss of life as recently experienced in the Independence Day floods. COURTESY PHOTO

via LoRaWAN technology. The low voltage (ba ery-operated), short range signals will allow these systems to be “daisy-chained” downstream so as the first system is triggered upstream, the ones downstream will be set off as well, giving those people even more time to evacuate to safety.

According to Cunningham, if a network of systems like this were in place along the Guadalupe River on July 5, alarms would have simultaneously sounded for countless miles downstream – the effect of which could have saved many lives. Also, given the fact these systems don’t rely on any human action or infrastructure such as electricity or cellular networks, it compounds its reliability, proving its effectiveness when it ma ers most.

camps in Kerrville in the coming weeks and they’ll act as test sites to ensure that they function as designed and under every possible circumstance. But he doesn’t want to stop there.

With his newfound purpose to prevent tragedies like the ones we all witnessed just two months ago, Cunningham wants to get into the rooms with the powers that be. Whether state or local government, he aims to gain the a ention of those who might only be looking at the established legacy systems that, while effective in ways, lack the key solution of waking people up and ge ing them moving before it’s too late.

“Pre y quickly, some commonalities started to appear,” he said. “They’re directly related to nigh ime and sleeping. Some of the fatalities here were people that were caught by the waters while they were sleeping, yet in Georgetown, an RV park got hit at 9:20 in the morning and nobody passed away, even though 40 RVs washed away. What would have happened in Georgetown if that happened at 3:30 in the morning?”

Cunningham’s years of aviation experience affords him an intimate knowledge

Though very simple and unassuming in appearance, the River Sentry system contains an array of tried-and-true components gathered from multiple longstanding industries. The concept is simple: First, the rising waters trigger an audible alarm that will reach 60 to 70 decibels inside the structure where people are sleeping. This is the core intention of the product – get people up and moving. Simultaneously, a bright LED light will illuminate the safe egress to safety while clear and simple voice instructions help guide those who are likely disoriented due to the sudden rise from a deep sleep. In addition to the functions of each individual system, they also have the capability to communicate with each other

“These common lines of communication we’re using to alert people are one of the first things to break in some of these extreme storms,” said Cunningham. “So, continuing to double down on some of these technologies isn’t very applicable.”

Cunningham then spoke to the human element.

“The system can’t have a delayed human trigger,” he said. “They can’t be dependent on somebody who’s not even on site to trigger the thing. If we’re waiting on someone to press the bu on and they’re not even awake, then it’s a bad system. We accept we can’t predict floods. We’ve studied them, we’ve watched them, we’ve watched other people try to predict them – we’re not interested in trying to predict them. We want to be in the reacting game and the system we’ve designed just uses the flood itself to trigger it.”

Cunningham and his team will be installing his River Sentry systems in various

“If there’s anything the community could help with, it would be good to get some serious consideration,” he said. “I would love to have these conversations with a county commissioner or a flood plain manager, because I want them to see it how we see it.”

Cunningham’s new mission finds him face to face with a new business opportunity, but he has no interest in it from a monetary standpoint. Though he can pleasantly imagine a day where these systems help create jobs for local Liberty Hill residents, he’s not interested in courting corporate dollars or simply throwing money and time at a problem for the sake of market share. To him, this is personal and his philosophy revolves around actual solutions that will prevent unimaginable tragedies from happening ever again.

“We want to be in the business of protecting localized areas,” he said. “Using very resilient, automatic, instant systems that just won’t fail.”

For more information on these systems, visit www.riversentry.com.

A simple yet e ective device, River Sentry’s components come from a variety of established safety industries that are designed to withstand even the most extreme conditions. COURTESY PHOTO

Big Sky Country beckons

Montana’s sheer loveliness provides vivid memories

BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER

It was mid-August of this year – just a few weeks ago – when I awoke to a bone-penetrating chill in the air, so much so, we decided to start a fire in the wood-burning stove while we donned our heavy flannels and sipped on a strong cup of coffee.

It was one of those cold August mornings that we’re all accustomed to around… oh, I guess I failed to mention I was in Montana. I was starting to wonder why there were so many confused faces around the room.

In a desperate attempt to flee the oven that is more commonly referred to as Central Texas, we set our sights on a place as far north as we’d ever been as a family, all thanks to some very dear friends of ours who recently built a cabin in the foothills of the Bitterroot Mountains and invited us to spend a week in what can only be truly experienced with one’s own eyes.

All the words and pictures in the world could never adequately describe the beauty of Montana, but I am going to do my best to bring you all along for the ride.

We landed in Missoula, which is nothing to write home about, frankly. It’s a rather flat valley town that has no shortage of big box stores

and corporate restaurant chains, but the surrounding distant mountain ranges offered a glimpse of what lied just an hour south – a thriving little community called Hamilton.

The place crawls with one-of-a-kind boutique shops, restaurants and microbreweries and some of the friendliest people that made us feel like we were back home in the most hospitable state on the map.

Its downtown square, complete with the Bitterroot Mountains in the near background, was something straight out of a Bob Ross painting and the surrounding national and state parks and forest land had this Texas boy’s eyes twinkling with awe and wonder as if he’d just seen his first shiny red fire truck.

Our first day was spent on our friends’ 30-acre property that is the most perfect combination of valley pastures, mountainous trails with jaw-dropping views and a vibrant mountain creek, whose subtle roar could even soothe a newborn that just received its first booster shot.

With ponderosa and lodgepole pines that I was certain were touching the heavens, there was a moment where I thought it couldn’t get any better and I saw no reason to leave the place over the next seven days. But little did I know, the beauty pageant had only just begun.

Our next morning in Montana was the one that started with a fire in the wood-burning stove – a better summer morning escapes my imagination. After a pleasantly mild afternoon helping my friend install a roof on his newly

built woodshed in preparation for winter, we were treated to their favorite watering hole and eatery for an early dinner at Fins Taphouse in the neighboring town of Corvalis, an equally gorgeous and charming little mountain valley town.

I’m sure you’re wondering what is so special about a taphouse that it warrants mention in a travel story, but remember, we’re in Montana and nothing escapes the pure, visceral beauty of this state. From the patio, we gazed across a massive, lush cornfield with the inviting Bitterroot Mountains on the horizon. The cloud cover of that cool, damp day seemed as if they were on stage, performing their masterpiece for a speechless, captive audience. To put a feather in such a well-fitting cap, the food was superb, and the service was impeccable. That evening found us back at the cabin for a night full of wonderful conversations, but all with our eyes locked onto the mountain scenes before us.

The following days all seemed to mesh into one and there was not one dull moment to be had. There was a trip downtown to the ever-so-popular local farmers market, which spanned multiple city blocks.

There were walks though the cabin property accompanied by extremely tame whitetail deer, chipmunks, and wild turkey – a scene right out of Snow White. And there were some amazing meals, prepared both at the cabin and at local eateries alike that left us all wanting more and we washed each bite down with a vast array of the finest locally-brewed beers.

I don’t know what it is about that place,

but Montana is easily one of the most heavily saturated markets of microbreweries and they all must have sold their souls in exchange for their recipes – every one of them was phenomenal. Side note: Drinking beer at every meal for seven days makes you gain weight. Let’s just say our return flight home touched down a bit harder than it did upon arriving in Montana.

Perhaps the two most memorable excursions were deeply immersed in Mother Nature, starting with a morning hike through the Bitterroot National Forest, which we kicked off at the Mill Creek Trailhead. I could go on and on about the stunning scenery that unfolded at every step of the way, but none of it would make much sense – it would just be a bunch of “oooh” and “ahhhh” sounds mixed in with a few “holy cow, would you look at that?”

I’ll spare you the audible session, but if I had to describe this hike in one word, I wouldn’t be able to. If I could use two words, they would be “achingly beautiful.” Yes, this place was so beautiful that it hurt. It’s as if I was seeing something that was only reserved for the gods – something that depleted the resources of the heavens solely for the sake of the beauty that stood before me. I wanted to just keep walking deeper into those woods until the end of time.

The second destination on our “holy cow, would you look at that?” tour was Lake Como, an entirely different setting that was equally stunning.

A natural mountain reservoir, this lake captures the annual snowmelt from the towering Bitterroot Mountains above its surface and

Typical summer weather patterns in Montana bring highs in the upper 70s and lows in the 50s. A welcome reprieve from Central Texas’ “dog days of summer.” PHOTO BY BRAD MARTIN

There’s something for everyone in Montana. From breathtaking outdoor scenery to many unique boutique shops and restaurants, an adventure lies around every corner. PHOTO BY BRAD MARTIN

it serves as both a recreational lake and as a means for irrigation for local

and

A dam was added early in the 20th Century to help capture more of the mountain’s precious bounty, but it doesn’t hinder the beauty of the place one bit. The scene from the entrance to the swimming beach is that of legends.

Though almost every square inch of Montana begs to be on a postcard, Lake Como sits close to the top of the list. We planned on taking a swim in the seemingly inviting waters, but a er dipping our toes into the ice-cold water, we opted out. The locals that were swimming and skiing must be built a bit differently than this Texan. A truly memorable time was had nonetheless and Lake Como will remain on our must-return to destinations.

The soul-capturing beauty that dominated this trip almost broke my sense of self control. I even reached the point where my dear wife had heard quite enough of me saying “oh my gosh, look at that!” I just couldn’t help myself. If I were a robot, my circuit boards would have overheated while smoke billowed out of my ears.

We’ve been back home for a few weeks now and I still can’t stop thinking about what we experienced up there. But most of all, the fact that we were able to experience it together, as a family and with some very dear friends, made it even more beautiful, as impossible as that may seem.

I’ve said it before and though I fear becoming a broken record, I beg you to find adventures like these of your own.

Just as it is with most of the trips we take

– when the time comes around to pack our things and go, there’s a million reasons for us to back out. But we don’t – we just go. The money, the time away from home and work, it all takes care of itself.

No amount of time or money can replace the memories you’ll make when you embark on an epic adventure with those that you hold close. Just go. And if you ever get the chance to, put that souvenir Montana magnet on your refrigerator. There’s no place like it on Earth.

Lake Como captures the annual snowmelt from the towering Bitterroot Mountains above its surface and it serves as both a recreational lake and as a means for irrigation for local farmers and ranchers.

PHOTO BY BRAD MARTIN

The Bitterroot Valley is full of rich farmland that gets it coveted irrigation water from the snowmelt that flows from the surrounding mountain ranges.

PHOTO BY BRAD MARTIN

Read our round up to learn more about the biggest news stories affecting

our community

COMPILED BY LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT STAFF

TEA releases 2024-25 accountability ratings

On Aug. 15, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released the 2024 and 2025 A-F Accountability Ratings for districts across Texas. For the 2024-2025 school year, Liberty Hill Independent School District received a B rating and an overall grade of 85 out of 100. The ranking marks a two-point improvement over the previous year’s score of 83.

The A-F ratings system was established by the state legislature in 2017 to provide a clear picture of how well school districts are educating their students. Scoring consists of three key performance metrics: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps.

LHISD saw a minor improvement in student achievement, with the score coming in at 86 – a gain of a single point. This metric was meant to gauge whether students were meeting expectations on the STAAR test and whether they are prepared for success after high school. For the past three years, the district has stayed within a one-point margin, swinging between an 85 and an 86.

School progress measures how students perform over time, as well as how the district’s performance compares to other similar districts. It is the only metric for which the district received a score lower than a B, with a score of 79. It marks an improvement from the previous year’s score of 78, yet it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the 2022-2023 school year, when the district was B-rated in the category, receiving an 82.

Closing the gaps refers to the school district’s ability to ensure all student groups are successful, and is the area where LHISD showed the most improvement.

“Talking is learning,” said Interim Superintendent Travis Motal. “Making sure each kid is engaging in class and growing every year.”

This focus on classroom engagement paid off, with a seven-point jump in closing the gaps – up from a score of 77 the previ-

ous year.

Most schools saw an increase in their scores, with the highest gains coming from Liberty Hill Elementary and Bar W Elementary, both of which rose a full letter grade. Tierra Rosa Elementary and Legacy Ranch High School both debuted with solid B scores.

For the coming year, the district plans to focus on staff recruitment and retention.

“Recruiting and keeping high-quality staff is key – from teachers in the classroom to everything else,” said Motal.

Dr. Heather Stoner, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning for LHISD, is expected to give a presentation digging deeper into the scores at the September board meeting. More information on the district’s scores – as well as details regarding specific schools – can be found at txschools.gov.

School board approves budget, tax election, land purchase; opens trustee seat

The Liberty Hill Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a series of significant items during its August meeting.

Trustees unanimously adopted the proposed 2025–26 budget and approved a tax rate of $1.2389. Chief Financial Officer Rosanna Guerrero noted that while the district continues to see strong enrollment growth, state funding formulas remain a challenge. To give voters a direct say on revenue needs, the board also called a tax ratification election for Nov. 4, 2025. If approved, the measure would allow the district to maintain programs and staffing levels tied to student growth. More information about the board’s decision can be found on page 8.

Addressing facility needs tied to that same growth, the board also awarded the re-roofing project for the district’s technology building to Dean Contracting. Trustees also tapped Bartlett Cocke as the construction manager at risk for Elementary School #9, which will be constructed in the Saddleback neighborhood within Santa Rita Ranch.

In closed session, the board also ap-

proved the purchase of a 5.68-acre tract in Liberty Hill, giving the district additional flexibility for future projects. The location of the purchased land, according to the Williamson Central Appraisal District, is on County Road 207, east of North Haven and west of County Road 212 and U.S. Highway 183.

The board also nominated Kristi Hargrove as delegate and Megan Parsons as alternate for the 2025 Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) txEDCON25 Convention delegate assembly.

Trustees also formally accepted the resignation of board member Kathy Major. Her departure opens Place 4, which will be filled through appointment. According to a press release from LHISD, the appointee will serve until the May 2026 election, when the Place 4 seat will be on the ballot. The winner of the May 2026 election will serve out Major’s term, which expires in May 2027.

City of Georgetown may sell water utility territory

The City of Georgetown is weighing a major change to its municipal water utility: selling off much of its 400-square-mile service area that extends far beyond city limits and into fast-growing neighboring communities, including Liberty Hill.

City officials say the move is aimed at better managing growth, controlling rising infrastructure costs, and focusing resources closer to home. Georgetown would continue to provide service within its city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), but neighboring cities—Liberty Hill, Killeen, Salado, Florence and Jarrell— are being offered the first opportunity to acquire the portions of the utility that fall within their boundaries.

When Georgetown absorbed the Chisholm Trail Special Utility District in 2014, it inherited the district’s entire service territory—roughly 400 square miles reaching into Bell and Burnet counties. At the time, the state required Georgetown to take on the full-service area, even though the city had only sought to serve areas within its ETJ.

Since then, rapid development has outpaced available water supplies. Customers in the former Chisholm Trail area now use more than 800 times the water originally acquired through the merger, with Georgetown footing the bill for new water supplies and infrastructure. Today, about 40 percent of Georgetown’s water customers live outside city limits.

City officials said continuing to expand service for outlying developments is an

unsustainable burden for Georgetown residents, who shoulder the costs. By transferring the service areas, the city hopes to concentrate on its own future water needs, which have been revised downward but still project significant growth.

For Liberty Hill, the decision could open the door to taking direct control of water service for residents within its ETJ and surrounding areas. If Liberty Hill chooses to buy the service territory, it would gain more authority to manage growth and plan long-term infrastructure.

If the city declines, Georgetown will put the territory out for bid through a request-for-proposals process. Private or public utilities could then step in, with the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) reviewing and approving any sale. Rates in these areas, officials caution, will likely continue to climb regardless of the provider due to the cost of building new infrastructure and securing water supplies.

The process is expected to take at least two years, with several major checkpoints. By the end of September, neighboring cities, including Liberty Hill, must submit initial responses to Georgetown’s sale offer. In early 2026, the Georgetown City Council may authorize an election, followed by a public vote in May. After the election, PUC would have to review and rule on any proposed transfer. If hearings are requested, the process could extend into 2029.

City leaders stress that no one will lose access to water during the transition. Georgetown will continue serving all customers within its city limits and ETJ, and the PUC will regulate water rates under whichever utility assumes control of the transferred territories.

To find out which parts of Liberty Hill are in the possible sale area, visit georgetowntexas.gov.

Site permit filed for Walmart in Liberty Hill’s ETJ

A site development permit for a Walmart store in Liberty Hill’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) was filed by Kimley-Horn on Aug. 12. The location of the site permit is 20991 Ronald Reagan Blvd., which is north of State Highway 29 and on the west side of Ronald Reagan Boulevard, adjacent to the Kauffman Loop entrance of the Morningstar subdivision.

As of Aug. 30, the site permit was still “awaiting response” from Williamson County Emergency Services District #4. Follow The Independent for more updates on this project as they take place.

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Turning up the volume

Liberty Hill amps up with first-ever Battle of the Bands

BY LESHELLE VALLEJO STAFF WRITER

Are you ready to rock? Because Liberty Hill is about to R-O-C-K.

On Sept. 27, Agape BBQ, located at 3610 RR 1869, will transform into a stage for the community’s very first Ba le of the Bands – a celebration of music, food and local talent.

The event is the brainchild of Stacey Gomez’s husband, Marc. Stacey, the owner of Liberty Hill School of Music and her daughter, McKenzie Gomez, the owner of Lone Star Performance Academy, have paired with Marc to fulfill one of their dreams.

Inspired by a longtime dream to provide kids and local musicians with a platform to perform, they teamed up with Agape BBQ to launch what they hope will become an annual tradition.

“We wanted to create something fun and exciting for Liberty Hill while also supporting a cause that ma ers,” Stacey said.

A portion of the proceeds from the Ba le of the Bands event will be donated to Hope House, a local nonprofit organization that provides residential care for children and adults with special needs. Additionally, organizers plan to share the Hope House Amazon Wishlist, providing community members with another way to lend support.

With Hope House being one of the many places impacted by the July flood, there is still a definite need for support while they adjust to their new normal.

“We have the capacity to register up to 10 bands,” Stacey said. “We will have each band take the stage throughout the day, each performing a 15-minute set of family-friendly music. Bands will rotate on and off stage in 15-minute intervals, ensuring the music

keeps rolling from the morning soundchecks until the final performance in the evening.”

At the end of the night, judges will deliberate alongside the voices of the crowd. The winning group will walk away with a $500 cash prize and bragging rights as Liberty Hill’s first Ba le of the Bands champion. Fans will also get their say with a People’s Choice Award, decided entirely by audience vote.

Judges will be drawn from a mix of local musicians, city employees and community leaders, creating what organizers describe as a “cross-section of Liberty Hill” to represent the town’s diverse love of music.

Two bands have already secured their place in the competition, bringing very different, but equally exciting sounds to the lineup.

The first is Spiral Mischief, a rock band born and raised in Liberty Hill. Spiral Mischief is made up of husband-and-wife duo Mark and Lisa Cummings.

Known for their sultry vocals, hypnotic guitar riffs and one-of-a-kind, stand-up drumming setup, Spiral Mischief delivers a sound that is both energetic and emotionally rich.

Their music blends covers with original tracks from their 2020 debut album “Can’t Shake the Feeling.” The band describes their sound as “sweet and savory, dark yet hopeful, ferocious yet tender.”

For local fans, they’re already a favorite –and now they’ll get the chance to showcase their talents on their hometown stage.

The second band is World Gone Mad. Traveling in from Austin, this 25-member brass band promises to fill the stage and the street with their wall of sound. Mixing classic rock, pop, swing, Latin and funk, World Gone Mad covers a wide spectrum of music – from Chi-

cago and Earth, Wind & Fire to Bruno Mars and The White Stripes.

With layers of horns, soaring brass harmonies and a driving rhythm section, the band is known for turning every performance into a party.

Fans can expect big energy, big sound, and a setlist that will have the whole crowd moving.

The Gomez’s stress the event is not just about crowning a winner, but about celebrating Liberty Hill’s community spirit.

“We want this to be a place where people come together for the love of music,” Stacey said.

The event will also highlight Liberty Hill’s vibrant food scene, with Agape BBQ serving up its renowned brisket, ribs and sides throughout the day.

Sponsors from the community are also stepping up to support the event, ensuring

that both the performers and the crowd have a memorable experience.

With just weeks to go before the inaugural event, anticipation is already building. The Gomez’s believe this first Ba le of the Bands will lay the groundwork for something much bigger in the years to come.

“Our hope is this becomes a Liberty Hill tradition,” said McKenzie. “We want kids, families and musicians of all ages to look forward to this every year. This is just the start.”

The music will begin at approximately 3 p.m. on Sept. 27, with performances running until the winners are announced around 10 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to come listen to some great musicians, stay late and cast their vote for their favorite band.

For more information on the event or to sign up as a sponsor, contact the Gomez family at kenziegomez2001@gmail.com.

It is my greatest honor to serve as YOUR Justice of the Peace and to officially announce my intent to seek candidacy for re-election as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2 in Williamson County. I am seeking another term as Justice of the Peace to continue upholding the Constitution and the laws of our great State of Texas. My commitment is to provide impartiality in every case, maintain efficiency in the courtroom, advocate for improvements that enhance our justice system, and serve with a strong community mindset. Together, we can ensure justice is fair, timely, and accessible to all.

World Gone Mad is one of the bands that will be a part of Liberty Hill’s inaugural Battle of the Bands event on Sept. 27 at Agape BBQ. COURTESY PHOTO

Wranglers look to wreck ‘em in second season on scene

Legacy Ranch’s football, volleyball squads ready to roll this fall

BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER

After a full year of nothing but talk of Legacy Ranch’s inaugural year, the honeymoon is finally over. Though it was filled with success and excitement, many are likely glad to have year one behind them as they now look to the year ahead.

As the halls seem smaller due to the now-doubled student body, the fresh kicks and the wardrobes straight from the store shelves aren’t the only thing new around campus.

A new athletics season is upon the Columbia-and-Navy and though many might think the newness of the school was left back in year one, the decision to join the varsity stage a year ahead of schedule sneaked in through the back door and has found both the Wranglers’ football and volleyball programs ready for a stellar fall season.

Assistant volleyball coach Gretchen Peterson, along with head coach Taylor Bryant (currently out on maternity leave) and their energetic group of athletes, have already logged Legacy Ranch’s first win as a varsity program. A notable triumph it may be, but in

Peterson’s eyes, her players have more of the same in mind.

“It was fun for the kids,” she said. “I don’t know if they really realized it until after, when I was like, ‘Hey guys, y’all are the first.’ but we just have really good kids. They want to compete and they’re excited about it. They understand it’s a different season and they’re excited to get to play a lot more than they did last year. That’s the best thing, too – just getting those reps and getting those opportunities.”

Legacy Ranch head football coach Tim Knicky chimed in regarding his group of athletes.

“Football-wise, it’s the same thing,” he said. “Our kids – they’re confident, because they work their tails off. They show up, they work, they care. It’s hard to think that a sophomore group has been in school for one week and have earned that, but they have. That confidence and that swagger is something that this sophomore group has down pretty good.”

Given that the newfound varsity territory has and will present many challenges throughout every program’s second season, the expectations may differ from those of a more normal season, but no one is simply

throwing it up in the air to see what comes down. There is purpose within the decision and the expectations follow that purpose across the board.

From ensuring that every player gets adequate reps in to introducing them to their district competition early on, the wins may not always make it to the scoreboard, but they will make it into the hearts and minds of the players and coaches.

This will help ensure that seasons three, four and beyond find a seasoned, prepared group of players and the shift in expectations – to win – will be crystal clear to all on board the bus.

“We had a super confident group of kids last year that came in with the mindset of, ‘We’re going to do something here,’” said Peterson. “The kids we got wanted to be here and they worked their tails off. This year, you’ve got that same confidence but now you’ve got new people – you’ve got new teams and you can take that confidence and mold it to where they go out there and they’re not afraid. They’re learning so much. They have to perform as a varsity team, but they still have to hear things a JV team would need to hear. Our coaches get it. They understand that they have to play ‘here’ (gesturing a higher level), but we have to coach them as if they’re still down ‘here.’”

Knicky was aligned with Peterson and the district alike as he put things into his own words.

“The expectations this year? Learn,” he said. “Learn the sport, obviously, but we’re in such a unique position that every one of our

freshmen and sophomores are getting varsity experience. So, learn what that feels like. Learn what that means. Learn how to prepare for a Tuesday and then a Friday night game. There are a lot of things that our kids are not accustomed to, but they’re going to learn this year and they’ll be able to take that through the next three or four years.”

As far as what the community can expect to see on the courts and fields alike this fall, it all boils down to the freshmen and sophomores finding their rhythm and for those that stood out as leaders in year one to now help develop the new guard. For both Peterson and Knicky, there have been great strides made on all fronts.

“At the end of the day, they’re competitors and they’re kids that want to win,” said Peterson. “They’re smart enough to know that no matter how young a kid is, they can help us win. So, if that kid is going to help us be better, then they’re all in on that kid.”

“They’ve done a great job,” said Knicky of the leadership from his sophomore players. “They’ve identified some of those freshmen that can translate and can lead and they’re showing them how to develop that further.”

As far as the outcome of each and every game this season, no one can quite predict how those final scores will tally up, but there’s no question the “W” columns won’t be empty, especially if these programs’ initial effort is any indicator.

Regardless of the final scores, both Knicky and Peterson, along with the other programs, can guarantee one thing--they’re going to compete.

Legacy Ranch football will run four sub-varsity teams this season as they ramp up their freshman and sophomore teams in preparation for varsity competition. COURTESY PHOTO

Lady Wranglers volleyball is proving they’re ready for the varsity stage as they start season two. COURTESY PHOTO

Going all in early

Legacy Ranch athletics enters varsity competition one year sooner than initially planned

BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER

The dust had barely settled on the inaugural year of Legacy Ranch High School when year two came barreling down the dusty dirt road.

In tow was not only an eager staff and nearly-doubled student body, but also the decision to step onto the varsity sports stage a year ahead of schedule, with only football continuing to compete at the junior varsity level this season.

Legacy Ranch’s success in year one obviously made an impression on the district and community alike and with over onefourth of its 2026-year students signed up to participate in its athletics program, some unique challenges presented themselves.

Considering the sheer number of teams each program has been able to put together this year, there weren’t anywhere near the number of games available on the freshman and JV circuit, which would’ve meant some incredibly short seasons and far too many students being robbed of the reps and experience on the field that will be crucial to Legacy Ranch’s continued development of their athletes.

But the decision to join the varsity circuit wasn’t only by force of hand.

“We, as coaches, got around our kids and by and large, we think we’re ready,” said Wranglers head football coach Tim Knicky. “I think we have kids that can compete and I’m excited about combining our sopho-

more and freshman classes and getting out there and being able to see what that varsity competition looks like a year early.”

Legacy Ranch – with the exception of football – will compete in Class 4A this year with the expectation of moving up to Class 5A next year.

Gretchen Peterson – Legacy Ranch’s assistant volleyball coach who’s stepping in for head coach Taylor Bryant while on maternity leave – shared her perspective, as well.

“Something we talk about in volleyball is we want to win,” she said. “But, it isn’t just focusing on wins on the scoreboard. What are those small wins? We’re going to take our lumps – we know that as we go into it. But if we’re progressing at the right things, those are wins along the way. We’re not trying to put banners up in the gym this year. If that happens – fantastic – but if we’re doing things right along the way so that when these kids are seniors, we’re hanging a banner, that’s what we’re really working for.”

Knicky echoed Peterson’s sentiment to a tee.

“We’re going to go out and compete and we’re going to go to win,” he said. “But the real goal is we need to get the things in place – the procedures, the culture, the traditions, the expectations – because they’re going to the first ones to see it through. So, if we have them in the right mindset and we’re getting little wins along the way, then we will, when these kids are seniors, be prepared for it.”

The brass tacks are in the work that lies ahead, and the entire Legacy Ranch athletics staff are already hashing through the details.

From building the right number of teams with the right depth to continuing to mold their athletes to the new schedules and expectations, there will surely be challenges, but the players have arrived ready and willing and they’re eager to make their mark. With the early arrival to the varsity stage, those opportunities will be plentiful.

“Football-wise, I’m really excited about our retention,” said Knicky. “This is true in every sport, but you tend to lose some of your kids for whatever reason. Going into this year, I was expecting to run three teams, but we’re going to run four. We’re still trying to build towards that varsity roster and the best way to do that is for them to play. They’re not going to get better playing on a really good team, watching others play. We need all our kids getting as many reps as we can. We’re already on par with everyone else – the Liberty Hills of the world are running four sub-varsity teams and we’re doing it with two grades and that speaks volumes of our kids and the community’s support of athletics.”

Wranglers football will face some stronger competition this season, but got off to a great start with wins in their opening games. COURTESY PHOTO

“They’re going to get so many opportunities to play this year,” she said. “I do think we can make a playoff run, I do think we can make the playoffs and I do think that we’ll win some district games, but I know that our kids are going to compete. Our kids will always rise to the challenge – they will always step up. They’re not going to back down or play the ‘Oh, we’re just freshmen and sophomores’ card. They just want everyone to know that we’re varsity and we’re going to play.”

If the Wranglers have their way, this season stands to be a memorable one.

Peterson also commented on her athletes and their unmistakable readiness to go all in.

The coaches are ready, the players are definitely ready and the community stands ready to cheer them on as they venture even further into uncharted territory.

Legacy Ranch’s volleyball team has officially logged the school’s first ever win on the varsity stage. COURTESY PHOTO

A letter to the sandbox kids

BY LESHELLE VALLEJO STAFF WRITER

Throughout my life, I’ve collected countless treasured moments – tiny snapshots I’ve bottled up and tucked away in my memory’s Rolodex.

The majority of them? They’ve happened between the hash marks of those 120 yards of grass and turf my boys have battled on over the years.

Our friendships, our families, our very roots have been strengthened not just by the wins and losses on the scoreboard, but by the life moments in between – moments that tested us, changed us and at times broke our hearts.

We’ve cheered in triumph, cried in loss and held tight to the memory of those who left us far too soon but will forever be in our hearts.

Many of you have been teammates since second grade – back when the shoulder pads felt too big and your helmets wobbled on your heads, but your dreams were already bigger.

For years, you didn’t even know what losing felt like.

Coached by the best “stage dads” in town and fueled by a pack of loud, loyal and slightly-crazy football families, those were the days.

Over time, you’ve all grown – not just taller or faster, but stronger in spirit. Some of you chased new dreams, some

moved away and new brothers joined the huddle.

Each of you has left your cleat prints on our hearts forever.

You boys started on the dirt fields behind Liberty Hill Middle School, dreaming under the Friday night lights.

You watched the Liberty Hill High School football team when it was still a class 3A school playing at the downtown field, soaking in every cheer and every word of the fight song, dreaming of the day you would be a Panther.

You’ve seen it all – state runs, heartbreaking losses, and even a pandemic that reminded us how much we love the game – and each other.

For me – a mom who wasn’t even from Texas – I learned quickly that here, you don’t just watch football… you live it.

You either learn the rules fast or get left in the dust of a practice field.

I learned what Slot-T meant before I knew all the street names in town.

And like so many of us, I stopped planning anything from late July through December – because…football.

Now, as some of you boys make your last first trek to the fieldhouse for that early morning practice, the stands empty and the scoreboard glowing in the dawn, I hope you take it all in.

The smell of the early morning air. The sound of your cleats hitting the concrete as you walk to the field. That electric hum of possibility. Bottle it. File it in your Rolodex.

Because these moments – right here –will be the ones you’ll pull out years from now and smile about.

This may be the season where some of

you finally step onto that varsity field for the first time.

It may also be the season where some of you hang up your cleats for good when the last whistle blows this fall.

No matter where your path takes you, know that every snap, every practice, every Friday night you’ve poured yourself into has mattered – to this team, to this community and to all of us watching with pride.

This fall, some of your brothers won’t be on the field with you – but know this: we are still cheering for them, for their journey and for every path they take.

Once a Panther, always a Panther. Because at the end of the day, it’s never been about just one player, one play, or one moment – it’s been about all of you, together.

Remember, no matter what the scoreboard says, you’ve got a sideline packed with your biggest fans – crazy football families who will cheer for you long after the final whistle.

We are so grateful for this journey –every yard gained, every lesson learned, every memory made.

Love always,

Your biggest fan

WINNERS ANNOUNCED November issue of the Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

HOW IT WORKS

STEP 1: Nominate your favorites across 60 + categories.

STEP 2: Vote for the top three nominees in each category during the voting round.

STEP 3: Celebrate the winners and runners-up in November’s issue!

Purple-and-Gold to Maize-and-Blue

Panthers senior set to further hone craft at Michigan

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

On this day, Alister Vallejo is wearing a sweatshirt adorned with the logo of the next team the Liberty Hill senior defensive lineman will be playing for next season –the Michigan Wolverines.

However, before he heads north to The Big House in Ann Arbor and Big 10 football, Vallejo still proudly features one he’s already worn far longer.

“It’s always been an honor to represent Liberty Hill,” said Vallejo. “Something I take with a great deal of pride.”

Speaking of which, Vallejo said he feels much more of that la er emotion when talking about his current squad.

“For me this year as a senior, the biggest difference for me is not just feeling confidence in my team,” he said. “But, feeling

pride about my teammates.”

Vallejo’s rise up the gridiron ranks has always taken place across the line of scrimmage, where he has gained an inordinate amount of knowledge from having experienced the game from both sides of the ball.

“I played both offensive and defensive line as long as I can remember,” said Vallejo, who has focused strictly on defense from the beginning of his junior season onward.

“For me, it’s a huge advantage as a defensive lineman to know what the offensive line is thinking, which has helped progress my knowledge of the game. But, defense is always what I’ve preferred.”

Vallejo’s versatility is perhaps one of his most valuable a ributes, as he can play either inside or outside in the Panthers’ three-man front, which enables him to a ack opposing offenses in different ways, he said.

“I would say I’m probably about 60/40 as far as my strength as a run stopper compared to being a pass rusher,” said the 305-pound Vallejo. “But, the biggest thing is for me to stay disciplined depending on the situation.”

Liberty Hill head coach David Seaborn said Vallejo’s physical skills mesh perfectly with his mental approach.

In fact, Seaborn said Vallejo has been a changed individual a er going through the recruiting gauntlet.

“I think ever since last spring, Alister has had a bit of a chip on his shoulder,” he said. “He was seeing other players he knew he was be er than ge ing more a ention and offers, while he was relatively overlooked.”

“One thing Alister has is tremendous hip explosion, which is very important for a defensive lineman to be able to beat people off the ball,” he said. “Put all that together and you really have something.”

According to Vallejo, the big-time college recruiting process wasn’t the most pleasant, but at the end of the day, he absolutely ended up in the right place.

“You could say my recruiting was an irregular experience,” said Vallejo. “I’ve been wanted and not wanted, lied to and told the cold, hard truth. But, of all the places I considered, the people at Michigan were by far the most real.”

But, now that he’s signed, sealed and soon-to-be-delivered to the Maize-and-Blue, Vallejo said he’s not necessarily focused on himself as he matriculates further in his football progression.

“I really haven’t thought a lot about that,” he said. “I just want to go in not expecting to start or anything right away, but help my teammates be be er.”

Vallejo added that same mentality is the one he’s taking with him during his senior season in Purple-and-Gold before the colors and geographical switch.

“I’ve never had the goal of individual stats or any of that,” he said. “I just want us to be successful as a team.”

Liberty Hill’s Alister Vallejo (56) will play at the University of Michigan next season. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Panthers defensive lineman Alister Vallejo (56) blends power and quickness to stop the run and rush the passer.

PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

If you build it

Multi-sport sophomore keeps eyes on the prize

BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER

To some high school kids, athletics is either dreaded or a period they at least hope flies by each day.

They put in the work while they’re there, but as soon as the bell rings, their focus shifts right back to their core interests, such as art, music or academics.

To many others, high school sports are something they care about and strive to do well in, but they’re fairly certain that they’ll hang up their uniform once they move their tassels from the right to the left.

Then there are kids like Rex Stroup.

Not only does he enjoy athletics across the spectrum of many sports, but he has a clear vision of where he expects to be beyond graduation day. To him, this is a critical year that will play a pivotal role in how that vision unfolds into reality.

When asked about the district’s decision to bring varsity play into the mix a year ahead of schedule, Stroup sat up straight and spoke with enthusiasm about the opportunities ahead.

“It’s a huge step up,” he said. “Just considering we’re a sophomore team going against all these juniors and seniors, we’re going to really have to work hard, but I think we can accomplish it.”

In addition to the stakes being raised regarding the varsity conversation, Stroup

now finds himself amongst a new incoming freshman class and many will be looking to him and his fellow sophomores for guidance on and off the field – something he welcomes as these teams start to take shape.

“Ever since day one, they’ve been here – ready to work with us,” he said. “Some of the top athletes have come up to join us in JV, I think they’re doing a great job and we’re leading them. It’s great, because they need to understand with each new year, it keeps carrying down.”

Stroup comes from a competitive family and the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree. In fact, mother Nichole played basketball at St. Edward’s University, is a member of the Austin school’s Athletics Hall of Fame and was recently named to the Hilltoppers’ All-time Top-5 womens’ hoops squad.

Older sister Falon currently plays basketball and volleyball at Liberty Hill High School.

When Stroup thinks about what drives him to perform at a consistently high level, he digs deep - all the way to his heart.

“Overall, it’s not really about thinking I need to work hard because I don’t want to be bad at it,” he said. “I want to go out into this because this is something I love and I’m going to go do the best I can.”

Revisiting the post-high school conversation, Stroup laid out his plans for what will come once he crosses the threshold of

adolescence and starts standing on his own.

“I want to go to college and play at the Division 1 level,” he said. “That’s what I’m working for at the moment. Basketball-wise, that’s what I want to do. Football is a work in progress right now, but it’s also something I’d really love to do.”

Taking continued inspiration from one of the greatest to ever play, the late Kobe Bryant, Stroup aligns himself with that mindset that, though it takes discipline and determination, it’s a proven system that produces champions.

“Just considering all of the things that he did,” he said of Bryant’s routines. “How early he got up, what he did over the day, working out multiple times a day, eating right, doing good, his work ethic – all of that.”

This year holds great importance for Stroup. While others may look at their sophomore year as an awkward or lackluster point in their high school career, he sees it as the year to find his stride so he can arrive to his junior year ready to show the world his budding potential.

“After this year, I just want to fully know I had a great sophomore year,” he said. “Because this year, for me, is a developmental year, considering that junior and senior year is when colleges start being able to talk to you – that’s when it really starts to mat-

ter. Especially since varsity football starts next year and we’ll be in year two of varsity in basketball.”

When he’s not locked in on all things athletics, Stroup enjoys the things that most young men would like, such as video games and fishing and hunting with his grandpa. But his most cherished pastime is simply spending time with his family.

Wranglers head football coach and athletic director Tim Knicky spoke to Stroup’s welcome presence on campus, further proving that the hard work and determination is paying dividends.

“Rex has stood out since the moment I stepped on Santa Rita’s campus the spring of his 8th grade year,” he said. “His charisma and confidence were evident and rare in an athlete that young. He has continued to grow and compete in multiple sports on campus and I could not be more excited about his future here at Legacy Ranch.”

There’s no question Stroup is building something big and his strict routines and determination to learn and develop are his keys to the kingdom.

Even his hydration routine is regimented and just like a pepper plant thrives from just the right mixture of stress and water, he’ll likely be bringing the heat for many years to come.

Legacy Ranch sophomore Rex Stroup is a multi-sport athlete that will spend this pivotal year building himself toward what looks to be a promising athletic career. COURTESY PHOTO

Wranglers sophomore Rex Stroup (3) is from an athletic family, as mother Nichole played college basketball and sister Falon plays volleyball and basketball. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Panthers plagued by turnovers in season-opening loss

Liberty Hill fumbled four times in 45-10 defeat to Steele

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

Any coach will tell you turnovers will kill a football team and in its season opener at Panther Stadium, Liberty Hill was victimized by four fumbles in a humbling 45-10 loss to visiting Steele.

In fact, the home side fumbled on three of its first nine offensive plays over the course of its opening three series, the second two of which were capitalized on by the Knights with a pair of touchdowns in making the score 21-0 with still 5:45 left in the first quarter after Steele had already scored on the first series of the contest after receiving the opening kickoff.

According to Panthers head coach David Seaborn, it was difficult to rebound from so much early adversity.

“It made it tough,” said Seaborn, who was overseeing his first game as a varsity head coach. “Basically, it’s like showing up to a game and saying ‘Hey, we’re going to spot you guys 21 points’ and then try to come back from that. Definitely tough to come back from because then you’re trying to coach up morale at the same time.”

After Steele’s Jamin Harvell opened the scoring with a nifty 39-yard run – during which a handful of Panthers defenders got hands on the Knights ballcarrier, but failed to bring him to the ground – for a 7-0 advantage less than 90 seconds into the game, Micah Sheeler hauled in a 12-yard scoring strike from quarterback DJ Green before the junior signal-caller scampered into the end zone himself and just like that, Steele had a three-touchdown lead.

While the Knights were shining on offense early, the Panthers failed to establish any momentum of their own – in large part due to the turnovers – in gaining only 65 yards of offense in a first half that saw only a 34-yard field goal by Luke Barto get the Purple-and-Gold on the board.

But, the Knights even had an answer for that, as Darriyn Morales saw Barto’s boot and raised with a 46-yard effort that left the score at 24-3 at halftime.

Seaborn said he had a distinct point for

his players at the interval.

“Our message at halftime was even though we got off to a tough start, we’re still in the game,” he said. “So, we planned on getting the ball to open the second half, going down and scoring, then doing an onside kick, score again and we’re right back in it at 24-17.”

Initially, it seemed as if Seaborn’s message had sunk in, as Liberty Hill received the opening kickoff of the second half at its own 25 and proceeded to march 50 yards on 15 plays – highlighted by a 16-yard run from senior Bryce Muchaw – before the turnover bug bit for a fourth time when Steele’s Marshall Kenner stripped the ball and ran it back 80 yards to make the score 31-3 with 4:55 left in the third period.

Seaborn said the potential 14-point swing in the score all but killed off the contest.

“Having that ball stripped like that deflated us a little bit,” he said. “Then, we were playing catch-up.”

Following Liam Jones’ 35-yard scoring run to close the scoring in the third stanza, Knights teammate – and Texas A&M commit – Jonathan Hatton ripped off a spectacular 94-yard touchdown run to put the cherry on top of a decidedly one-sided result.

Only Muchaw’s seven-yard touchdown run with 4:34 left in the game prevented the Panthers the ignominy of being held out of the end zone on the evening completely.

Muchaw led the Panthers with 88 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown, while fellow senior Preston Benefield added 51 yards on six attempts and sophomore Bryce Bryn had nine carries for 47 yards, as the home team rushed for 212 yards on the game.

Seaborn had another message for his players postgame.

“I told our kids right after the game to not let this define you – if we need to make the same corrections next week, you’ll have let it do that,” he said. “We plan on putting a better product on the field next week.”

Panthers defenders Hunter Sims (90) and Noah Herrera (9) shut down a running play during Liberty Hill’s 45-10 season-opening home loss to Steele. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Liberty Hill’s Bryce Muchaw (5) scores the Panthers’ only touchdown of the game in a 45-10 season-opening home loss to Steele. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

ALL PHOTOS BY ALEX RUBIO

Carl Shipp Drive named after longtime Liberty Hill postmaster

BY JAMES WEAR COLUMNIST

Next time you’re out driving through or around the streets of Liberty Hill, take a moment to give some thought to the various names of streets. Many bear the names of individuals who played a prominent role in the community.

One such street is Carl Shipp Drive. Looking back, one will discover Carl Shipp was a longtime postmaster for Liberty Hill, serving in that position for some 30 years before retiring in 1964.

Shipp wasn’t originally from Liberty Hill. He was born in Lorena in 1895 where he met his future wife, Jonnie Connell. Shipp went off to serve in the military and upon returning, discovered Jonnie was teaching at Texas Christian University. Shipp proposed and Jonnie accepted, leaving her position at the college mid-year to marry him. The newlyweds lived in Lorena and Waco for a time before moving to Liberty Hill in 1925, where Shipp worked for his father-in-law for the next nine years.

He was appointed postmaster in December 1934 and continued in that position for the next three decades. He was active in community affairs, serving on the school

board for many years in addition to being a member of the Masonic Lodge, American Legion and Red Cross and was among the charter members of the Liberty Hill Volunteer Fire Department.

In a profile that appeared in a March 1977 issue of The Libertarian, Shipp was quoted as saying, “Things have changed. When we moved here people were slow and deliberate...They never got in a rush. But you can’t just sit down, it’ll run off and leave you. I like it! I like to see progress.”

According to the profile, Shipp remained active in his retirement years and was often spotted driving through Liberty Hill on a motorcycle he had purchased for his grandson. Shipp passed away in September of 1979 and Jonnie followed him a few months later. The couple is buried at Liberty Hill Cemetery.

Shipp’s father also lived an interesting life. Dr. W.F. Shipp practiced medicine in Lorena for more than 65 years. According to his obituary, Dr. Shipp would likely have been a native Texan had the Civil War not broken out and interrupted his family’s journey from Georgia to Texas. As it happened, the family landed in Little Rock, Ark., for a time with Dr. Shipp being born in 1869. In 1887 the elder Shipp, not yet a doctor,

many years in downtown locations,

COURTESY PHOTO

reopened a school in Killeen where he taught for three years, making $65 a month. The school had been shut down as some of the students had chased off many of the teach-

ers. Shipp went to classes prepared for the bullies as he carried a .45 caliber pistol. Shipp eventually married and after earning a degree, began practicing medicine.

2025 Best of Liberty Hill program underway; voting round opens Sept. 10

We are pleased to bring you the 2025 Best of Liberty Hill program!

Nominations will run through Sunday, Sept. 7 at midnight. During this time, log onto our site (use the QR code below) to nominate your favorites for each category provided.

From best coffee to best taco and best law firm to best day spa, there are more than 60 inclusive categories that you’ll have the opportunity to nominate for.

Just like last year, there will be no fee to nominate your favorites! Each nomination submission is completely free. At the end of the nomination process, we will tabulate the results and the top three nominees from each category will move to the voting round. One nomination per category per email address.

The voting round will run from Wednesday, Sept. 10 through Saturday, Sept. 20.

The top three nominated businesses

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from each category will be listed for the community to vote for. Log onto the same site during those 10 days to vote for your favorite business, organization or person in each category. One vote per category per email address.

Once the voting window closes, our staff will tabulate the final results and spend a few weeks getting to know the winners – writing their stories, sharing their triumphs and challenges, and what makes them the best of the best in Liberty Hill.

The entire list of winners and runners up will be announced in the November issue of the Liberty Hill Independent Monthly, which will be delivered across Liberty Hill on Friday, Nov. 7.

Again this year, the coveted Spirit of Liberty Hill award will be given to a person, business or organization within Liberty Hill that exhibits the highest level of support and love for the community of Liberty Hill by making a significant impact on individuals as well as the community as a whole.

To submit a nomination for this category, be prepared to share a brief explanation

as to why you are nominating that specific person, business or organization.

During the voting period, the top three nominated choices will be in the running for the Spirit of Liberty Hill award. The winner of this award will be featured with a story and will appear on the cover of the November issue of the Liberty Hill Independent Monthly.

We are excited about the 2025 Best of Liberty Hill program and can’t wait to discover this year’s favorites across our growing community!

After

the Liberty Hill post office opened the doors to its current location more than 25 years ago. This photo was snapped during the facility’s dedication ceremonies.

EVENTS CALENDAR

September 6

BOOT ROCK BOYS

Agape BBQ

3610 RM 1869, Liberty Hill 6:30 p.m. agapebbq.com

September 7

PENDULUM HEARTS

The Vineyard at Florence 111 Via Francesco, Florence 1-4 p.m. facebook.com/vineyard.atflorence/ events

September 8

WCMG MONTHLY MEETING/ CLASS - PROJECT FAIR

Williamson County Master Gardener

100 Wilco Way, Georgetown (Georgetown Annex)  6:45-8 p.m. txmg.org/williamson

September 10

TRIVIA NIGHT

Liberty Hill Beer Market

13851 SH 29, Liberty Hill 7-9 p.m. facebook.com/LHBM512

September 13

KIDS DIY OLYMPICS

McCoy’s Building Supply

2505 RM 1869 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. mccoys.com

SECOND SATURDAY SUNSET MARKET

The Market LHTX

Downtown Liberty Hill 6-9 p.m. themarketlhtx.com

JUNIOR BROWN

Globe Theatre

132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 8-10 p.m., $53-$464 globetheatretx.com

September 16

COFFEE WITH A COP

Liberty Hill Police Department 13055 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill (Starbucks) 10 a.m.-12 p.m. facebook.com/share/1BBTfNdLfs

September 19

GUNS AND OIL BAND

Agape BBQ 3610 RM 1869, Liberty Hill 6:30 p.m. agapebbq.com

September 20

SUGAR COOKIE DECORATING CLASS

Baked by Joy Leigh 1201 Main St., Liberty Hill (LH Learning Hub)

12-2 p.m., $50 bakedbyjoyleigh.com

PRINCESS TEA PARTY

Michelle’s Patisserie 1908 Main St., Liberty Hill

12:30 p.m., $75 michellespatisserie.com

ELLE TOWNLEY

Fire Oak Distillery

4600 CR 207, Liberty Hill

1-6 p.m. fireoakdistillery.com

FALL CAKE CLASS

Classy Cakes by Lori

401 Indian Oaks, Liberty HIll

4-6 p.m., $50 facebook.com/share/17UXg694FS

FRIDAYZ WITH KEN & RENEE

Dahlia Cafe

2450 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

6:30-8:30 p.m. dahliacafe.com

THE DECADES

The Vineyard at Florence

111 Via Francesco, Florence 7-10 p.m. facebook.com/vineyard.atflorence/ events

September 21

SEPTEMBER FUN SHOOT

Hill Country Bowhunters

540 CR 258, Liberty Hill

8 a.m. facebook.com/share/1EM5WE7BBf

September 23

LIBERTY HILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL GALA

Lone Star Oaks

3354 CR 236, Liberty Hill

5-9 p.m., $75 libertyhillchamber.org

September 23

8TH ANNUAL CLAY SHOOT FUNDRAISER

Opportunities for Williamson & Burnet Counties

681 King Rea, Georgetown (Reunion Ranch)

9 a.m., $20-100 facebook.com/share/1CpqAt1Dbs

September 27

OATMEAL FESTIVAL Vaughan Street Downtown Bertram All day oatmealfestival.org

FOURTH SATURDAY MARKET

The Market LHTX

Louine Noble Elementary School

9 a.m.-1 p.m. themarketlhtx.com

HANDS ON IN THE GARDEN -

FALL LAWN CARE/GARDENING TIPS    Williamson County Master Gardener  3151 SE Inner Loop, Georgetown (Demonstration Garden) 9-11 a.m. txmg.org/williamson

BATTLE OF THE BANDS

Liberty Hill School of Music/Lone Star Performance Academy 3610 RM 1869, Liberty Hill (Agape BBQ)

3-10 p.m. kenziegomez2001@gmail.com

September 30

WHITESTONE BAND

Dahlia Cafe

2450 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

6:30-8:30 p.m. dahliacafe.com

Guns and Oil Band

Junior Brown

The Decades