Hoops Heaven
See the slower side of San Antonio p. 16
Liberty Hill 8-year-old faces leukemia with unwavering bravery p. 11
A deep dive into the challenges facing LHISD p.8
Both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams excelled this season at Liberty Hill High School. Pictured on this month’s cover are Lady Panthers head basketball coach Chris Lange, senior Gabby Mundy, junior Renee Stemmons, senior Evie Bruce, senior Jaxson Scott, senior Colin Schulze, senoir Marchel Timmons and Panthers head basketball coach Blake Boren.
BIZ BRIEFS:
What’s New?
Latest business news and what’s coming soon to Liberty Hill
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Einstein Bros Bagels
19405 Ronald Reagan Blvd. Einstein Bros Bagels recently announced it will be opening a location at the Gateway 29 development on the corner of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and State Highway 29. The restaurant is estimated to open in September 2025.
RETAIL
Sherwin-Williams
12360 Hwy. 29
Sherwin-Williams recently opened a new location in Liberty Hill. The store offers paints, paint supplies and stains for home and commercial projects. It is managed locally by Jesse Rich and is open seven days a week.
SERVICES
Haramadava Religious Services
114 Bennington Dr., Liberty Hill
Haramadava Religious Services or Haramadava Temple honors the heritage of Hindu traditions while fostering spiritual growth and inclusivity. The Temple was originally in Southern California for over 26 years and now calls Liberty Hill home. It was founded by Kiran Sharma, who still leads the Temple today.
Jiffy Lube
12390 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill
The Liberty Hill location of Jiffy Lube is now open. Jiffy
Lube offers customers quick oil changes, in addition to other vehicle services.
The Glow Co.
Mobile, Liberty Hill
A new mobile tanning salon is coming to Liberty Hill soon. The mobile salon is owned by Liberty Hill residents Emily Butler and Jessica Richardson, and will offer clients individual tans or tans for large groups or parties. Booking is scheduled to open in mid-April.
Bright Bubble Laundry
Mobile, Liberty Hill
Bright Bubble Laundry is a new wash and fold business designed to make Liberty Hill residents' lives easier. The laundry service offers pick-up and delivery, a 24-hour turnaround time and is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, visit brightbubblelaundry.com.
OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS
• Hoppy Homes Haven Online, Liberty Hill
• Event Essentials TX Online, Liberty Hill
• Illuminated Beauty Co. Mobile, Liberty Hill
• Montessori Kids Universe 9025 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill
• Raiford Davis Custom Homes 1040 Hwy. 29, Bertram
• Better Now Physical Therapy 1040 Hwy. 29, Bertram
• Tober & Co.
Mobile, Liberty Hill
• Scholars Edge Tutoring Online, Liberty Hill
• Forward Opportunity 114 Holmes Rd., Liberty Hill
ON THE MOVE
Forrest Coffee House
103 Forrest St., Liberty Hill
Forrest Coffee House is celebrating one year of business in Liberty Hill this month.
Fletcher's Florals
13651 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill
Fletcher's Florals owner
Shauna Wardlaw announced in mid-February that Fletcher's Florals is for sale.
John Gonzales, Williamson County
911 Tracy Chambers Ln., Georgetown
Williamson County has selected John Gonzales as its new Emergency Medical Services director. Gonzales recently served as the WilCo EMS clinical division commander and has served the department for 19 years.
Float the River Brewing (formerly Hell or High Water Brewing)
931 Main St., Liberty Hill
The building Float the River Brewing is located in was recently put up for sale. Float the River owners announced only the building is for sale, not the brewery itself. Their immediate plans are to continue operating Float the River Brewing.
Gold Medal Gymnastics
209 CR 214, Liberty Hill
Gold Medal Gymnastics recently announced it will be moving to a new location this spring at the District 29 development. The new training center will feature in-ground foam pits, trampolines, a dedicated and enclosed preschool gym, 28-foot ceilings and a large parent viewing area.
Clean Slate Waxing Lounge
10 CR 279, Liberty Hill
Clean Slate recently added new services to its menu, including an infrared sauna and massage therapy services.
Hughes & Company Real Estate
3106 RR 1869, Liberty Hill
Hughes & Company Real Estate recently celebrated 11 years in business in Liberty Hill.
Small Town Scoops
Mobile, Bertram
Small Town Scoops announced in February it would be closing its daily operations in Bertram and Burnet and moving to an events-only model in the region.
Teresa Kingsbury, Cross Tracks Church
101 Church St., Liberty Hill
Teresa Kingsbury, the Christian education pastor and leader at Cross Tracks Church, retired in mid-February.
All Stems From Sophia
311 Hidden Bear Rd., Liberty Hill
All Stems From Sophia celebrated its 10-year anniversary in February. The floral business is owned locally by Nora Siemsen.
Fleur Rebelle
2001 Loop 332 (Main St.), Liberty Hill (inside The Luxe) Fleur Rebelle is celebrating eight years in business in March. An event will be held March 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Luxe to commemorate the anniversary of the boutique.
Kaylie Olechoski, Epique Realty
Liberty Hill
Kaylie Olechoski is the newest real estate agent to join Epique Realty. She will be providing services in the Liberty Hill area.
Warrior Wellness by Holly 606 Rolling Hills Rd., Liberty Hill
Holly Johnson of Warrior Wellness by Holly is celebrating 10 years of business this month.
Warrior Wellness offers clients personal training, geriatric yoga, aerial yoga and corrective exercise.
Thirsty Penguin
14751 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill
The Liberty Hill location of Thirsty Penguin celebrated its three-year anniversary in business in February.
Mashlab
126 Holmes Rd., Liberty Hill
Mashlab is expanding its services to a second location at 2500 CR 279 in Leander. The expansion will bring nearly 10,000 square feet of outdoor turfed practice space, two additional batting cages and a weight room.
First in Real Estate
Liberty Hill
Liberty Hill resident Jon Branigan recently launched First in Real Estate, a brokerage that specializes in residential, commercial and farm and ranch properties.
John Gonzales
LHISD braces for change amid financial pressures
District plans budget and program cuts, approves calendar
BY RACHEL N. MADISON STAFF WRITER
February was a big month for the Liberty Hill Independent School District. From efforts to balance a stretched budget to a feedback-oriented town hall and final approval of a four-day week innovative 2025-26 calendar, transformative district-wide change is certainly underway.
ISD to cut programs, staff amid budget strain
For months, LHISD has been brainstorming ways to balance its budget while making millions in necessary cuts. As Superintendent Steve Snell explained at the LHISD’s town halle vent on Feb. 10, these drastic cuts are a result of a lack of state public education funding and ever-increasing inflation.
Texas hasn’t increased the basic allotment for public school funding in five years, he said. The 2019 rate of $6,160 annually per student still stands, despite rising maintenance costs and growing ISD enrollment. The 2024 actual cost per student was $10,139, forcing LHISD and other districts to face the impacts of budget deficits, despite statewide funding surplus.
The district’s limited budget was further stretched by the failed passage of Liberty Hill’s Proposition A on the November 2024 ballot. The measure hoped to raise staff salaries from revenue generated from increasing the maintenance & operations tax rate.
In the election, 50.65 percent of voters voted against the measure, resulting in the failure of the proposition. The ISD is now facing the consequences.
Jim Mayo, who moved to LHISD in 2019 to enroll his two daughters in Liberty Hill’s outstanding education system, reveals he did not vote for the proposition. He now faces regrets and encourages other parents to not make the same mistake with future elections.
“I didn’t do my homework before the vote and am 100 percent guilty of not doing my due diligence,” Mayo told The Independent. “After researching it, I now understand that the funding was needed to bridge the gap between what was budgeted by the school district and the funding that got removed by the state at the time of the vote.”
Mayo said he didn’t feel the gravity of the importance of the measure was properly communicated to parents in the fall. While he doesn’t blame LHISD, he hopes that the Board of Trustees can implement more innovative
and creative ways of making sure parents and the community understand the impacts of a measure like this before the vote. A proposition this significant needs messaging that “stands out against everyday noise,” he said.
Following the proposition’s failure, Snell acknowledged the tax rate increase was not only a confusing issue, but also a big ask, especially for residents who don’t have children enrolled with LHISD and said the board will make efforts to thoroughly communicate future propositions to the public.
As a result of both lack of a state funded increase to basic allotment and Prop A’s failure to pass, LHISD is facing an additional $4.5 million budget reduction.
This deficit is forcing the district to cut over 50 positions across all campuses and programs. “We’ll see a reduction in every department across every single campus,” Snell told The Independent
As a result, teachers will see increased workloads, larger class sizes and overall reduced support.
“Still, the reductions being made are not enough to make a difference on the teacher salary side,” he said. “Overall, we need more funding to be able to give teachers a sizable raise.”
Jennifer Mitchell, a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teacher at Rancho Sienna Elementary School, is now facing the reality of program cuts that could threaten her job.
“This is my 11th year teaching and I felt honored to be chosen for this leadership role of building this program this first year,” Mitchell said. “It’s exciting because we see kids loving science and so excited to come to class.”
Students’ exposure to this field may now be limited.
As a parent of a special education student herself, Mitchell also worries about other programs that will lose staff.
“Who will fill those gaps?” she asked. “What is the district’s plan to address the added burden on children?”
Mayo shares Mitchell’s concern.
“I’m worried about the impacts that program closures will have on economically disadvantaged kids who aren’t able to explore those fields outside of the school environment,” he said.
Mitchell describes the whole situation as “heartbreaking.” She said in a period of so much financial uncertainty, Prop A’s failure to pass felt like “a slap in the face from community mem-
The Liberty Hill Independent School District’s Board of Trustees has approved a hybrid, four-day week calendar for the 2025-26 school year. COURTESY GRAPHIC
bers who didn’t vote for it.”
LHISD parent Ashlie Cobb doesn’t believe the proposition failure should pit parents against teachers.
“The teachers wouldn’t be in the district if they didn’t care about our kids,” she said. “Likewise, if parents didn’t trust our teachers, they wouldn’t have kids in public school. The messaging that ‘we don’t care about teachers because the bond didn’t pass’ is inaccurate.”
LHISD hasn’t yet released the final list of programs cuts but plans to do so at their March 10 board meeting. Snell assured that community feedback from the town hall was and will continue to be incorporated into decisions.
“I’m very proud that so many people showed up because it means they care deeply about their children and about the schools they attend,” he said. “I wish it was under better circumstances. Still, I’m grateful to serve a
community that cares about their schools and gets involved.”
LHISD adopts four-day week calendar
One major decision reached by the Board of Trustees in February was the approval of the LHISD’s new hybrid four-day week innovative calendar, which they passed at their Feb. 18 board meeting.
The new calendar, curated and adapted over months via teacher, parent and community feedback and surveys, features a four-day school week and Friday teacher workdays. These workdays are designed to give teachers back valuable time for planning and collaboration, an effort by LHISD to encourage teacher retention and educational excellence amid the financial and staff strain.
“For the last 20 years there’s been more and more added to our teachers’ plates. We can’t
change the system on the state level, and we can’t give our teachers any more money. The only thing we can do is give them time to do the work that’s required,” said Snell.
“We’re a district of innovation and we have to continue to look at different ways to do things,” said board member Brandon Canady at the February meeting. “The state makes the rules of the game. We don’t know what the full impact of the budget cuts are going to be, so this is our way of doing everything we can to make sure our teachers have what they need to be successful because it will, in turn, pay off tenfold in the success rate of our students.”
“Over and over, definitive studies have shown that the number one impact on student success is a successful teacher with intentional planning,” said board vice president Kathy Major, echoing Canady’s emphasis on the impact of teacher readiness and student success.
The new calendar adheres to the state-mandated 75,600 instructional minutes per year and features 160 instructional days (ten minutes longer), and 20 professional development days.
The Board of Trustees is still considering tiered school start and end times, and the date of the last day of school.
With this decision, Liberty Hill joins over 100 Texas ISDs that have adopted a hybrid or four-day week schedule.
Mitchell, who previously worked in a district that will be entering its third year with a four-day week schedule, is grateful for the extra time the calendar provides.
“I’ve seen the other side from my hometown going in this direction, and [have only] seen positive things out of it,” she said. “I’m in favor of it as a parent and teacher. It helps build extra time and gives chances for parents to do things with kids on Fridays.”
She also understands the stress that schedule inconsistencies pose to families.
Cobb told The Independent that her family has a plan for their daughter on Fridays, but understands they are a minority.
“I’ve talked to a lot of teachers who find the lack of consistency (of Fridays off ) makes [planning] even more confusing,” she said. “Teachers are parents, too.”
The district has said they plan to offer free childcare options for all staff and are pursuing affordable options for parents.
“We’re looking into the possibility of doing some enrichment camps as well and working with our community partners,” said Snell. “We just want to make sure those kids are in a safe place on those Fridays.”
Board member Chris Neighbors understands the stress and confusion this poses on parents, but hopes the public can understand that the calendar is the district’s best effort to help everyone.
“We are in a desperate position to help teachers. I o en hear, ‘You’re not hearing us or listening to us.’ I want the public to know – you’re not being ignored,” he said. “We’re listening to you, we’re listening to teachers and we have to do something.”
Mitchell believes the new calendar can offer opportunity for the community to come together to create positive change.
Innovative solutions to new challenges are already underway.
Just last week, local parents launched the “Liberty Hill ISD (Friday No School) Parents Network” Facebook group, a grassroots effort to create free avenues for keeping kids safe and engaged on their Fridays off.
“Every Monday, we post a list of free Friday activities. Parents and volunteers can add meetups, playgroups, or learning pods. Just check the post, pick what works, and show up,” read a community post.
This group represents a way local parents are fostering innovation within the new system, and encouraging the community to “figure this out together.”
The Board of Trustees plans to discuss and approve the final version of the calendar with revisions at their March 10 board meeting.
ISD keeps watch on state legislature
As LHISD a empts to mitigate financial strain through cuts and the new calendar, it keeps its eyes firmly on the Texas legislature for support. The decisions made this session will greatly impact LHISD’s future, resulting in either relief or further stress on the system.
House Bills 2 and 3, o en known as vouchers and school choice bills, would allow families to allocate a portion of public school funding to go toward a private education.
This would further direct funding away from public schools. While HB2 would also minimally increase school allotments from $6,160 to $6,380 per student per year, this still falls well below the LHISD’s $10,139 cost per student.
While these bills seem to pit families against public schools, Snell reminds the public the biggest ba le lies with the state.
“They have money for both,” he said. When it comes to community concern for how LHISD will maintain its level of excellence amid challenges, Snell said the Board of Trustees is commi ed to doing everything it can to keep Liberty Hill a high performing school district.
“Every decision we make is in the best interest of the school district, its students, the teachers and the community,” he said. “And we can’t do it without the community’s involvement and support. I thank the community for always supporting us and always engaging with us.”
Snell assured that the LHISD will continue to keep parents and families informed throughout the legislative session and encourages the community to be involved by reaching out to legislators with their comments and concerns.
Brave beyond her years
Local girl stands up to leukemia
BY ELLIE HERT EDITORIAL INTERN
To know 8-year-old Brielle Ambabo is to love her. Her silly personality, upbeat attitude and countless jokes are sure to bring joy to anyone she meets.
She wakes up each day with a smile on her face, ready to take on whatever comes her way. Ambabo has a unique way of staying positive, despite the life-changing news she received in October when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic
Leukemia (ALL).
“The way she’s been through this whole thing--she’s an inspiration to me,” Brielle’s mom, Kelly Ambabo said. “Her personality has been amazing. She’s definitely the most amazing kid I know.”
On what seemed like a normal day, the Ambabos visited the doctor in Liberty Hill for a stomach ache. During the exam, Brielle Ambabo’s brother, Brock, pointed out some mosquito bites on her legs that had turned into bruises.
“[Brock] was supposed to be there for a reason,” Kelly Ambabo said. “The man upstairs had him there for a reason.”
After checking on Brielle Ambabo’s legs, the doctor ordered blood work to ensure everything was fine.
However, later that evening, the Ambabos received a call from the doctor with partial blood work results, who recommended they immediately go to Texas Children’s Hospital for testing.
There, doctors performed more tests and diagnosed Brielle with ALL, a condition characterized by the rapid growth of immature white blood cells, called lymphoblasts.
“All of the hours mush together after a while,” Kelly Ambabo said. “They did tons of tests and were finding out what kind of leukemia.”
Brielle Ambabo was initially in the hospital for two weeks as doctors pinpointed exactly what treatments she needed to stop the cancer from growing. During those weeks, she celebrated her eighth birthday and was showered with gifts and prayers to make it extra special.
“To be honest, those two weeks were such a blur,” Kelly Ambabo said. “We had a ton of people come to support.”
As a cancer survivor herself, Kelly Ambabo said she is inspired by her daughter’s resilience through a situation that most kids her age would find unbearable.
“She’s had a fantastic sense of humor and an incredible amount of confidence,” Kelly Ambabo said. “She’s the one that keeps me able to not fall apart.”
After the initial two weeks in the hospital, Brielle Ambabo has transitioned to partial inpatient and outpatient treatments. She goes into the hospital every 10 days for chemotherapy.
She was in the hospital for 29 days from early December to January for the treatment, meaning the Ambabos spent Christmas in the hospital. They had family and friends visit and set up Christmas in the hospital, complete with a tree, turkey dinner and lots of gifts.
“We didn’t really feel like we were in the hospital,” Kelly Ambabo said. “It felt like we were just with our family at home. We had a good time.”
Kelly Ambabo also said her daughter became quite popular during her 29-day stay and made friends all around the hospital.
“She met people beyond just her floor,” Kelly Ambabo said. “We’d go for walks and explore all over the place.”
During her time in the hospital, Brielle mbabo kept up her appetite, always asking for steak, coconut shrimp and most often, sushi.
“That girl craved some crazy stuff,” Kelly Ambabo said. “Of course she couldn’t have raw sushi, but we were able to find some cooked stuff with edamame and she devoured it.”
Due to her need for several treatments, Brielle Ambabo transitioned to homeschooling. Kelly Ambabo also resigned from her job to care for her daughter, while Brielle Ambabo’ss father, Adam, continues to work to support the family.
The Ambabos said the support their daughter has received from the community has been incredible. The family has also
received help from their community at Rock Pointe
and several foundations focused on helping children with cancer.
Kelly Ambabo said one of the most notable has been the Clay Madsen Foundation, which honors a young man who lost his battle to cancer by providing for and helping other families facing the disease.
In January, Bill Burden Elementary students and staff wore shirts that said “Brave like Brielle” in her honor.
The Ambabos have also had friends and family start fundraisers to support them as their daughter undergoes her treatment.
“We have had a ton of support,” Kelly Ambabo said. “It’s definitely made a hard time manageable.”
There is no clear answer on when Brielle Ambabo will return to school, but there is hope she could start back mid-year during the 2025-26 school year.
Until then, she will remain her upbeat self and continue to inspire everyone around her with her unwavering strength and positivity.
To show support to the Ambabos, visit their GoFundMe at www.gofundme.com/f/ support-brielles-battle-against-leukemia.
Brielle celebrated her eighth birthday Oct. 28, 2024, just weeks after her initial diagnosis. COURTESY PHOTO
Church
Top, 8-year-old Brielle Ambabo was recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. During her stay in the hospital, Ambabo’s favorite meal was sushi and edamame. COURTESY PHOTOS
Panthers playoff runs electric with excitement
Liberty Hill’s girls, boys provided memories for a lifetime
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER
When the Lady Panthers walked off the court at the Alamodome in San Antonio after their defeat in the Class 5A Division II state championship game, the long trudge back to the locker room in the bowels of the massive arena provided plenty of time for players and coaches alike to reflect on the journey that had just come to a conclusion.
A campaign consisting of 36 victories against only five losses, including not one – but a pair of triumphs against Class 5A Division I state semifinalist and No. 1-ranked Georgetown (both on the Eagles’ home court), a home win over Wagner, who defeated Georgetown in the semifinals and advanced to the Division I championship game and another pair against perennial powerhouse Westlake – also both on their floor – and it was a season to remember, regardless of the sorrow felt on the final day of the year.
Perhaps Lady Panthers head coach Chris Lange said it best after his squad’s 44-33 semifinal win over Barbers Hill.
“To get there with this group of girls is a special thing for them and me,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve accomplished to this point and there’s still a little work to be done, but it’s nice to know you’re going to be playing on the last day of the season.”
Indeed, the calendar had already flipped to March when the Purple-and-Gold hit the hard-
wood in the Alamo City on a Saturday morning with a sea of purple supporting it filling up one side of the cavernous interior in what was a special occasion of the highest order.
However, a strong Monterey side stood in the way of lifting a state title trophy and a 6435 defeat at the hands of the Lady Plainsmen relegated the Lady Panthers to silver, runner-up medals for their individual trophy cases.
For seniors Gabby Mundy and Evie Bruce, the contest marked the final time they would don their school colors after four years of varsity and another two as middle-school teammates, so win or lose, tears were always going to be shed after the final buzzer, leaving the dynamic duo to soak in the moment among family, friends –and of course, teammates and coaches.
“It was pretty tough taking off the jersey,” said Bruce. “Especially with Gabby.”
Lange couldn’t say enough about the duo and what they’ve meant to his program.
“They’re tried and true,” he said. “They’ve been the heart of this team and been the ones trying to keep us calm and in games and keep us going. Gabby is such a leader and it’s been awesome to see her grow and change and Evie has been such a force – just special kids – I’m super-proud of what they’ve accomplished and it’ll be fun to see them go off to play in college.”
Lange was again philosophic in his summary of the entire experience from beginning to end.
“You can’t put everything on one game, but it’s no fun to lose the last one of the season,” he said. “Getting the opportunity to play all the way into March, winning 35 games – but most importantly having your girls together at the end and enjoying the moment with them – that’s what it’s
about and I’m super-proud of what we accomplished, so it’s a sad day, but also a great day.”
But, it wasn’t just about the girls this season.
After failing to even qualify for the playoffs the past pair of seasons, the Panthers not only invited themselves to the state dance, but won a district championship in the process and advanced all the way to the regional finals.
Ironically, the curtain on their postseason run also came to a close in San Antonio less than 24 hours earlier and 25 miles away at Northside Sports Gym, where Liberty Hill dropped a tough 57-51 decision to Alamo Heights featuring a furious fightback that almost resulted in what would’ve been a hoops comeback for the ages.
Trailing by 17 points to start the final eight
minutes, the Panthers embarked on a 15-2 run in cutting a stubborn Mules side’s lead from 50-33 all the way down to single-digits at 50-41 before cutting further into the advantage and being down by only four at 52-48 with 1:59 left in regulation.
Unfortunately, though, Alamo Heights showed the resolve to close out the win in ending Liberty Hill’s heroic run.
The Panthers hadn’t lost a game since before Christmas on Dec. 22 and were riding a 19-game winning streak entering the contest and Liberty Hill head coach Blake Boren was superfluous in singling out his squad’s seniors – all eight of them – for the work the collective group had done to get his team to within a couple wins of
The Panthers won a district championship with an overall record of 32-6 and advanced to the Class 5A Division II regional finals. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO
Liberty Hill seniors Gabby Mundy (2, left) and Evie Bruce (5, right) played four seasons on the Lady Panthers’ varsity team including three regional finals and one state championship game appearance. PHOTOS BY ALEX RUBIO
an opportunity to play for a state championship.
“Credit to our seniors,” he said, of the group led by Marchel Timmons, Jaxson Sco and Colin Schulze. “They had a mission this year to make the playoffs. But, not just make the playoffs, but win district and I’m so proud of them for the run they made – it’s the first time
I’ve done this, which always sticks with you, so I’m always going to remember these guys.”
All in all, it was a historic season for both of the Panthers’ hoops squads and for everyone involved, from players to coaches to parents in what became a Purple-and-Gold traveling party in the postseason and one we’ll all remember for a lifetime.
Panthers seniors Colin Schulze (25, left), Marchel Timmons (5, center) and Jaxson Scott (12, right) helped lead Liberty Hill to a district championship and appearance in the regional finals. PHOTOS BY ALEX RUBIO
The Lady Panthers finished the season with an overall record of 36-5 and advanced to the Class 5A Division II state championship game. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO
Read our round up to learn more about the biggest news stories a ecting our community
COMPILED BY LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT STAFF
Council approves water master plan, impact fees
At their Feb. 12 meeting, council members approved the final version of Liberty Hill’s water master plan and amended facility water impact fees.
Following a presentation update by representatives from HDR Consulting, Council formally adopted the recommended water impact fee of $9,065 per LUE (living unit equivalent) for water facilities. This followed the mandatory Jan. 22 public hearing on the item.
The new impact fee was adjusted to account for the city’s projected growing population and water demands. HDR projects current water demands to increase 12 percent per year going forward. Aggressive growth could result in water supply shortages in the next several years.
The city will need to develop more than five times its current supply volume by 2050.
Representatives from HDR Consulting summarized the primary water supply strategies outlined in the report to Council, which included negotiating interlocal agreements, developing advanced water purification facilities, constructing necessary water infrastructure, and pursuing partnerships with water supply entities.
Now approved, Council will implement strategies and reassess the plan yearly going forward.
Council approves work order for advanced water purification facility
At their Feb. 26 council meeting, Council approved a work order for Phase 2 of Liberty Hill’s Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) to Garver LLC, in an amount not to exceed $960,213.
Council approved Phase 1 of the facility in 2024, which included submi ing pilot protocols to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and pursuing grants. Phase
2 will include Part A, the pilot plant design, and Part B, the construction of the facility. The approved work order is only for Part A.
The AWPF will help mitigate water shortages by providing a potable reuse system for the city to treat wastewater to potable water standards, as recommended by water and wastewater masterplans.
The facility, which will be located between the North and South Fork Wastewater Treatment Plants, aims to treat five million gallons per day (MGD), with the potential to expand to treat 10 MGD. It is designed to handle all present and future flow from both the North and South plants and flow into the city’s distribution system.
Engineers hope this permanent facility can also offer educational tours to the public and serve as a maintenance testing facility in the future.
LHISD reviews Texas Academic Performance Report
At their Feb. 18 board meeting, the Liberty Hill Independent School District Board of Trustees held a public hearing and reviewed the 2023-24 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR).
Assistant Superintendent Todd Washburn presented the report to the board. The TAPR report provides a yearly overview of student performance, achievements, and demographics, and teaching staff qualifiers by district.
At the time of the 2023-24 school year report, LHISD had an enrollment of 8,800 students and a demographic breakdown of students of primarily White (54.9 percent), Hispanic (25.1 percent), Asian (10.9 percent), and African American (3 percent) ethnicities. Nearly all ethnicities saw a rise in representation when compared to 202223 data.
Liberty Hill also saw an increase in enrollment of emergent bilingual and at-risk students for the 2023-24 year. The district had 10 percent bilingual students, 25 percent in the career and technical education program, 10 percent in the gi ed and talented program, and 15.1 percent in
special education.
Washburn noted that, according to 202425 data, the percent of special education students has increased to 17 percent.
“We are a li le higher than the state in professional staff,” Washburn said, with 67.3 percent.
LHISD’s staff includes 52.8 percent of
COURTESY GRAPHICS
teachers directly in the classroom with students, a portion above the state average of 48.3 percent.
Most LHISD teachers (35.3 percent) have one to five years of teaching experience and 16 percent have over 20 years of experience. Liberty Hill’s proportion of educational aids is also higher than the state average, at 13.4
percent.
Liberty Hill outperformed both the region and state in academic performance, according to review of STAAR grades in all areas across all grades and subjects (reading, math, social studies and science).
The district also ranked higher than the region and state across all subjects in annual academic growth, a new measure designed to review teacher performance.
This measure shows the percent of students per subject that are meeting or exceeding one academic year’s worth of growth in that area.
Liberty Hill overperformed in early childhood literacy and math progress when compared to the region and state, despite a noticeable dip during the post-Covid years.
The percentage of college-, career- and military-ready (CCMR) graduates has seen a dip over the past several years, from 78 percent in 2019 to 71.4 percent in 2024, which is consistent across the region and state. This is one indicator where Liberty Hill is currently underperforming.
“This is partially due to the fact that there are 10 indicators for CCMR, and we dropped in industry-based certifications,” Washburn said. “The good news is that this is lagging data, and large growth can be
seen for the past school year. We believe that we are going to close that gap and get back to where we typically are, which is above the region and state.”
LHISD students have an average SAT score of 1029 and an average ACT score of 24.3, with 40.8 percent of students at or above criterion.
“We’re testing more kids across the board; they’re performing at or above criteria at a higher level and are outperforming the region and state in average SAT and ACT scores,” said Washburn.
Of the 365 students in the graduating class of 2022, 94 went on to study in a fouryear public university, 79 went on to a end two-year public colleges, and 12 went to independent colleges and universities.
Liberty Hill received a meets requirements special education status, and a financial FIRST Rating A of superior.
2025 candidate filings for city council, school board, mayor
There will be four contested elections for six open seats on city council, Liberty
Hill Independent School District’s board of trustees, and the position of mayor in this year’s general election on May 3.
The city received several incumbent and new candidate filings for its four open council seats.
The May election will elect the position of Mayor (currently held by Crystal Mancilla), Council Member Place #2 (currently held by Michael Helbing), Council Member Place #4 (currently held by Amanda Young), and Council Member Place #6, a new seat established by the Home Rule City Charter.
All positions will serve three-year terms.
Mancilla filed for re-election. Mancilla is currently serving a one-year term following a special-called election in May 2024 to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor Liz Branigan, who resigned in March.
Police Sergent Devin Vyner has also filed to run for mayor, marking the same contested election as last year in which both Vyner and Mancilla ran for office.
Council member Michael Helbing filed for re-election to Place #2. He runs uncontested and will be re-elected to council.
Business owner Elisabeth Brown has filed for Place #4, currently held by Aman-
da Young. Council member and mayor pro-tem Young also filed for re-election to this seat.
The city received two candidate filings for newly created council Place #6, established by the Home Rule Charter to grow council to seven total members and create an odd voting number.
Timothy ‘Tim’ Hennessy, who works in information technology, and Logan Yarborough, who has a career in human resources, both filed for this seat.
For more information on the upcoming city election, visit the Elections page of the city website.
The school board has two members running for re-election, and only one contested seat in the May election.
Board of Trustees President Megan Parsons is running for re-election for Place 7. She is contested by Cyndi Hauser, a business owner, who is also running for the seat.
Current board member and retired educator Kristi Hargrove is running for re-election to Place 6. She runs uncontested and will be re-elected to the school board.
For more information on the upcoming school board election, visit the Board Elections page on the ISD’s website
Uncovering hidden treasures
Exploring San Antonio off the beaten path
BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER
Have you ever booked a trip that, when the time comes to hit the road, you feel as if you’re forcing yourself to go? Whatever the reason, be it stress, finances or otherwise, it’s all you can do to muster up that happy face and embark on an adventure that once excited you but now occupies a more worrisome place in your mind. Such was the case on our latest family adventure to a typically-beloved place on the map: San Antonio.
As day one found us on the tail end of a lovely Christmas gift in the form of a seemingly endless virus, the family and I were forcing ourselves through the motions of getting packed and loaded into our faithful, German-engineered steed as we all took a collective deep breath and hit the road. We left on a Friday afternoon but, luckily, the drive down I-35 South was uneventful as we were able to avoid any heavy traffic or major collisions. Just shy of the two-hour mark, we arrived at our destination –a wonderful little artist’s loft in the heart of the King William neighborhood.
For so many, the allure of San Antonio lies within its more famous tourist attractions such as The Alamo, the Riverwalk and other gems like the Japanese Tea Gardens. Granted, we’ve experienced all of these wonders and they are some must-see places to visit. But, the more we’ve gotten to know the slower side of San Antonio, the more we’re drawn to walk its
streets as locals rather than your typical out-oftowners.
Upon settling into our loft, there was a collective energy boost courtesy of the vibrant and eclectic nature of our home for the weekend. Once an industrial warehouse space, its transformation has given it a new lease on life while being careful not to cover up the story of its former self. I would bet money on the fact no blueprints were used in the interior buildout of this inspiring loft. As if the empty space demanded it, the thoughtful use of steel, wood, tile and concrete – complemented by warm and saturating natural light – brought to life a truly inspiring place fit for an artist or, in our case, a family with an insatiable appetite for originality.
With a much-needed energy boost in full effect, we headed out onto the neighborhood streets in search of some grocery items for our humble abode. Luckily for us, being a part of the hustle and bustle, a perfect little corner store was just two blocks away. The place reminded me of a New York City bodega – stocked head-to-toe with anything and everything one might need. We took the “divide and conquer” approach and quickly rendezvoused at the checkout counter, a fine bounty in hand. A quick exchange accompanied by a nod and a smile from the cashier and we were out the door.
The early evening walk did us some good and our appetites soon began to stir. As we typically travel with a fairly specific restaurant itnerary
in hand, the relentless nature of our recent illness deemed otherwise. But, this is San Antonio – no matter what part of town you find yourself in, great food is in abundant supply.
Unbeknownst to us, we were mere blocks away from a thriving stretch of South Alamo Street. Full of bars, restaurants and eclectic shops, this lively little spot was more like a neighborhood block party than an overcrowded tourist or collegiate hotspot. Proudly displayed amongst its fellow destinations was a colorful, light-filled place called Tito’s Mexican Restaurant. Just as we’d expected, it checked all the boxes. From the margaritas to the house-made churros, there was nothing left to be desired. We left the restaurant with even more of a skip in our steps as we made our way back to the loft for a night spent on the patio with the city lights and sounds as our companions.
Day two was our only full day of the trip, so we got right down to business. Even before the sun had made its way onto the horizon, we were out the door and headed straight toward El Folklor Bakery for some early-morning donuts, but we were unprepared for just what we were about to walk into. Although its physical footprint was small, this was the Spec’s of bakeries with its wall-to-wall, floorto-ceiling display case full of not only donuts, but Mexican pastries and fresh baked breads to boot. I felt like a kid again – my eyes as big as saucers. The ear-to-ear grin on the face of our little girl further proved that we’d stumbled upon a local treasure. We made our selections, paid the friendly cashier and made our getaway and soon experienced, quite possibly, the best donuts we’ve ever had. The apple fritter was unbelievably delicious.
Our newfound sugar high was all the motivation we needed, so we trekked the few short
blocks over to a nearby trailhead that introduced us to the southern and much quieter, end of the Riverwalk. A thoughtful blend of Mother Nature and recently-built condominiums was prevalent throughout our riverside walk as we got our steps in and then some. The area was bustling with locals as they enjoyed a near perfect sun-filled morning while kicking off their weekend routines. Not to overdo it and risk depleting our slow to return energy levels, we eventually made our way back to the loft for a bit of R&R before lunch at Las Tapatias De Jalisco.
We discovered this restaurant during a trip to San Antonio last year. We were in search of a local breakfast spot and soon discovered that it was the place to be for that most important meal of the day. Little did we know, our AirBnB loft for this return trip was in a warehouse building on the very same block as Las Tapatias. How convenient! We decided to see what their lunch game was all about and it is a strong one indeed. The tortilla soup is a must if you ever find yourself at one of their tables. Even better than the food is the pricing. I don’t know how they do it, but inflation has completely missed this place since the 80s or 90s. Great food, even greater pricing and prompt, wonderful service. Need I say more?
Another meal behind us, our fuel tanks kept climbing back to normal levels, which is key when preparing to visit another world which, in this case, was on the northern end of the Riverwalk at a place called Elsewhere.
Each year, during Liberty Hill’s Whimsy & Wonder festival, the downtown streets transform as they sweep one and all off of their feet into a world fit for a fantasy novel. Now, imagine being able to visit such a place each and every day. Well, if you can stomach the two-hour
A former industrial warehouse, this artist’s loft offered a unique lodging experience in the heart of the thriving Southtown district. PHOTO BY BRAD MARTIN
San Antonio’s famed Riverwalk has been attracting tourists and residents alike since 1941 when its first phase was opened to the public. PHOTO BY BRAD MARTIN
commute to San Antonio, such a dream would become a reality. Elsewhere is like no other local hangout, at least in my experience. It’s almost too much to put into words and, as if it was by design, the place speaks well for itself. I won’t even try to explain the decor as I am certain that it is a style of its own but the “oohs and ahhs” saturate the air just as they do during a fireworks show on the Fourth of July. The drink selection and menu items are just as eclectic and, just as the grounds of the place, there is something for everyone, no ma er their age. It’s a truly mesmerizing place that cannot be overlooked on your itinerary. If you do one thing while in San Antonio, this should be it.
A er many hours experiencing Elsewhere, we were finally able to pry ourselves away from our newfound serenity and all for a noble cause: dinner. With the eclectic theme at the wheel, we were led to a place with its own unique story to tell – a rustic li le dive called Cullum’s A agirl.
Located right off the North Saint Mary’s Strip sits an unassuming, historic old house with no sign or other indication of its purpose other than a few small picnic tables out front. I can’t quite recall how we found out about this place, but the word on the street was it serves the best chicken wings in town. A true lover
PHOTO
BRAD MARTIN
of all things fried chicken, there’s no way I’m passing up the chance to find out for myself.
A er an ice-cold pint at one of the aforementioned picnic tables, our lives were forever
changed when the works of art that was our food hit our table. The wings, the ranch, the fries – oh my gosh, the fries!
Every single bite redefined any and all expectations of what these incredibly common items should taste like. Aside from my beloved late great-grandmother’s, this was the best fried chicken I have ever had.
The evening hours found us back at the lo , the day’s enchanting memories dancing in our heads. A er another night on the patio with the intoxicating city’s nightlife as the soundtrack, we signed off and checked into dreamland – hopeful that it would match the whimsical experiences of the day.
Day three began as the epitome of a lazy Sunday morning. With coffee in hand, we basked in the warm sun that penetrated the floor to ceiling windows. A er some reading and writing, we slowly packed our things and began to turn our sights towards home, but not before making one last, eagerly anticipated stop for lunch at a Southtown eatery named Burgerteca.
The brainchild of San Antonio’s own chef Johnny Hernandez, Burgerteca introduces the all-American hamburger to the cuisine of its vibrant and friendly southern neighbor – and they have become fast friends.
As if a burger needed anything more to
make it delicious, it plays so well with the Mexican flair, as was the case for my choice – the chilaquiles burger. Topped with crispy tortilla strips, salsa verde, crema, queso fresco, black beans and a fried egg, the perfectly cooked pa y and its friends sent my taste buds into a celebratory frenzy as they donned their sombreros and broke out into el jarabe Tapatio, also known as the Mexican hat dance. The tater tots a la Mexicana were the perfect companion to such a fine burger and it was all washed down with a house-made michelada. It was the perfect sendoff as we were soon back on the open road and by “open” I mean congested and laden with construction. It’s o en far too easy to talk ourselves out of our previously made plans. Whatever the reason, our levels of both excitement and commitment tend to take a pre y significant hit as time separates the joy of the idea from the moment reality hits and the work begins. Even more so is our tendency to stay on the beaten path of familiarity and comfort. If I ever needed such a reminder, this trip was it. Take that trip and find wonder as you wander. Peruse a different menu, find friends among strangers and let your curiosities get the best of you. You never know the stories you’ll tell until they’re wri en. Get out there and write yours.
San Antonio is home to thousands of acclaimed restaurants, with a diverse array of Mexican cuisine making up the majority of the o erings.
BY
A lasting hoops legacy
LHISD teacher makes her mark on nearby alma mater
BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER
It’s one thing to have an impact on a game’s outcome.
Whether it’s a dominant, leading-scorer performance or the tie-breaking final shot to win the contest, the MVP walks the halls as a hero, even if only for a day, as their name lives in the recent memories of many.
But, when those contributions show up time and time again and the impact’s ripple effect penetrates an entire program, those names become enshrined in the halls themselves.
Santa Rita Elementary School teacher Nichole Stroup was recently named to the All-time Top 5 women’s basketball team at her beloved alma mater – St. Edward’s University. Already a member of their hall of fame, Stroup’s contributions have left a lasting impression on the women’s basketball program, an accomplishment that she gave a one-word description.
“Amazing,” she said with a smile, but quickly shifted the spotlight to her two children, Falon and Rex, both in attendance of the hallmark event. “I’m so thankful they get to witness this.”
Falon, a multi-sport athlete at Liberty Hill High School and Rex, playing for Legacy Ranch’s inaugural football and basketball
squads, have had quite an example to look up to over the years. According to Stroup, it’s helped lay the runway to each of their respective goals of their own.
“It’s a good lesson for the kids,” Stroup said, as she discussed their mutual love for the game. “That there’s a reward for all your hard work.”
Then Nichole Wiatrek, she etched her name in the Hilltoppers’ record books during her playing career at the Austin school from 1996 to 2000 and was enshrined in its Hall of Fame in 2020 before this latest honor was bestowed upon her.
Stroup ranks in the top five all-time in career points (1,520, third), rebounds (779, fourth), blocks (68, fifth) and has the fifth and eighth-best single-season point totals with 535 points during the 1999-00 season and 467 in 1998-99 season. Stroup is also tied for second for most blocks in a season with 24 during the 1997-98 campaign.
A three-time all-conference selection, Stroup earned second-team all-region honors in 1999-00 and led the Hilltoppers to an NAIA National Tournament appearance in 1999, helping the Hilltoppers to a 20-7 mark in 199798 and 20-6 record in 1999-00.
Stroup and her family now reside in Liberty Hill, where they came in search of a tighter knit, small-town community and the value it places on the very people that embody it.
As the years have passed since their arrival, bringing with them tremendous growth, Stroup has witnessed an already special bond grow even stronger within the community.
Rather than divide it, the new colors, faces and campuses have merely expanded the small town’s connection to its growing heart.
“Liberty Hill is about building those relationships,” she said of the two high schools working together. “It’s a wonderful community.”
Judging by these recent accolades, Stroup’s impact on St. Edward’s is one of obvious proportion and the historic university has done the same for her in return.
As she spoke of her role at Santa Rita, she laid out her commitment to her students, something she sees as an opportunity to pay that impact forward.
“It’s about being their leader,” Stroup said of her students. “Giving them a voice, making them feel confident and pouring out my energy and love to them and making them the best people they can possibly be every day. If there’s anything I can contribute to Liberty Hill, that would be my ‘number one.’”
Nichole Stroup was inducted into the St. Edward’s University Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and was recently selected to join the school’s All-time Top 5 squad. PHOTO BY BRAD MARTIN
Nichole Stroup’s daughter, Falon Stroup, is currently a member of Liberty Hill High School’s girls’ varsity basketball squad. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO
Panthers powerlifters push plates proficiently
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER
When Hailie Levy approaches the bar right before attempting a squat lift, there’s only one thing going through her mind. Nothing.
“At that point, I don’t hear or feel anything,” said Levy. “I just tune everything out.”
Earlier this season, the Liberty Hill senior made history when she scored a combined lift of 1,000 pounds becoming the first girl to ever hit that number in the program’s history, with a squat of 380, bench press of 275 and dead lift of 345.
According to Levy, she had no idea until after the fact what she had accomplished.
“It felt so cool,” said Levy, who competes in the 165-pound division. “I didn’t know I had done it until somebody told me.”
Liberty Hill head coach Rudy Acevedo said Levy’s lift was simply the residue of all the work she puts in – not just during the season – but year round.
“Hailie has the determination to keep working out even after the season,” he said. “She kept at it in the summer and got as strong as she could, then continued that into the fall and winter.”
Currently, Levy is ranked fourth in the state and has her sights set on a state cham-
pionship at the competition in Edinburg on March 15 and has already qualified for the regional meet where she will need to finish in the top two in order to advance.
Not bad for a volleyball player who decided to take up lifting in her sophomore year – mainly at the behest of mother Shanna, she said.
“She was always heavy on me getting into powerlifting because she thought I was stronger than most people my size,” said Levy, who played for the Lady Panthers’ varsity volleyball squad this past season. “She was mad I didn’t start sooner.”
Levy said her mom has a certain way of getting the best out of her daughter in the heat of competition.
“My mom will say things that make me mad, but get me motivated,” she said. “But, it always seems to work.”
On the other side of the coin for the Panthers’ boys’ squad, junior Daniel Simpson competes in the 275-pound division and said lifting for competitive purposes is a stark contrast to his work in the weight room as a member of Liberty Hill’s varsity football team.
“Very different,” said Simpson, a junior offensive lineman. “For football when we lift in the morning, it’s just about getting up as much weight as you can and getting your work in for the day – taking weight off isn’t
an option. But, with powerlifting you have to worry about proper form, so it’s a different feel overall.”
Simpson expanded on that concept.
“When you’re lifting for football, you’re just trying to build muscle mass, so it’s a better opportunity to push yourself and get out of your comfort zone,” he said. “For powerlifting, I can focus on certain muscle groups more and make sure I get better – it’s more of a mental thing.”
Levy said the psychological side of lifting
is just as much – if not more critical – than the physical aspect.
“I’m a very mental person as it is,” she said. “But, if you go up to the bar and say to yourself ‘There’s no way I can lift this much,’ then you won’t. You need to have the right mentality.”
If that still doesn’t work, Levy will seek help from a higher source, she said.
“I pray a lot,” said Levy. “Like if I’m on my third attempt at the squat, I’ll be like ‘Please, Lord, help me get this.’”
At left, Panthers junior Daniel Simpson plays offensive line for Liberty Hill’s varsity football squad in addition to powerlifting. At right, Liberty Hill’s Hunter Sims is currently ranked third in the region and is a strong candidate to qualify for the state meet. PHOTOS BY ALEX RUBIO
Liberty Hill’s Hailie Levy is the first Panthers girls’ powerlifter to score a combined lift of 1,000 pounds in the history of the program. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO
“We
Lady Panthers advanced to state title game with 44-33 win
Mundy led Liberty Hill with 19 points in semifinal victory
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER
Usually, when a team is held without a field goal over the course of an entire quarter, it doesn’t bode well for victory – especially if it occurs in the fourth period of a close game.
However, the Lady Panthers overcome exactly that in their 43-33 win over Barbers Hill in College Station to advance to the Class 5A Division II state championship game.
Of course, points aren’t only scored from the floor, though and despite not hitting from the field, the Purple-and-Gold combined to drain 15-of-19 from the line in the final eight minutes to put away a pesky Eagles squad that gave them all they could handle and then some.
Gabby Mundy led Liberty Hill with 19 points – including a 7-of-8 performance from the line in the fourth – which Lady Panthers head coach Chris Lange said was instrumental in the win.
“When they’re going to foul you and you go to the line, you can maintain the gap you have if you make them,” he said. “Which we did.”
In addition to their prowess from the line, the Lady Panthers clamped down on Barbers Hill the entire second half in allowing only three and eight points in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
Following a sloppy first half that saw both team turn the ball over time and again, senior center Evie Bruce credited her coach with making the proper adjustments to right the course.
“They had great pressure and great defense,” she said, of the Eagles. “But, I think Coach Lange did a good job switching up our offense and defense – our defense was especially good in the second half, along with our rebounding and limiting our turnovers.”
According to Mundy, once she and her teammates squared away the defensive end, the points on the offensive side would begin to pour in more freely.
“We struggled in the beginning because our shots weren’t falling and we weren’t rebounding as much,” she said. “But, we came back in the second half and pushed ourselves on defense, got steals, got back into the game and our offense started cooking.”
Renee Stemmons hit the first two buckets of the evening for the Lady Panthers, then Lindsey Bullock and Mundy hit 3-pointers and Liberty Hill led, 10-8, after one period.
But, after Bullock hit another three to begin the second, Eagles point guard Brooklynn Roberson sunk a three, then completed a 3-point play after being fouled and Barbers Hill had a 14-13 lead before Mundy scored from the beyond the arc yet again to restore the advantage at 16-14.
Despite four 3-pointers in the opening half, though, Liberty Hill still trailed at the break
by a 22-18 score.
Lange said the message he delivered at halftime was one of hope despite his team’s early struggles.
“We played a pretty bad first half, but were only down by four, so you can take that and go with it,” he said. “We talked about simplifying a little on the defensive side, so that’s what we ended up doing and it really made a difference.”
The Lady Panthers emerged from the locker room a seemingly more determined side in beginning the third quarter with an 8-0 run – including another four points from Stemmons – and eventually led, 28-25, entering the fourth.
Mundy had scored the final two Liberty Hill baskets in the third and as it turns out, those were the final field goals of the game for the Lady Panthers for the duration.
In fact, neither side scored in the final period until Bruce hit a free throw with 4:53 left in regulation and the parade to the charity stripe began.
In all, Mundy converted seven chances from the line, while Bruce was successful on 5-of-8 and Bullock went 3-for-4.
Only a pair of late threes by Barbers Hill’s Jayci Lackey closed the gap somewhat, but Mundy finished off the contest with the final five points of the game from the line.
Along with Mundy’s game-high 19 points, Bullock added nine, Stemmons eight and Bruce seven, while Lackey led the Eagles with 14 points.
Lange said the game didn’t unfold as he had envisioned going in, but the flexibility of his
players was what ultimately won out in the end.
“I wasn’t expecting it to be like that,” he said, of the plodding nature of the proceedings. “They’re just really big – I didn’t realize how big they were – they’re a bunch of strong girls and did a really good job of making us throw it over the top. But, we got smart, switched it up and changed our defense and that’s the good thing about doing all the things we do – we have a lot of different things we can pull out of the bag and we did tonight.”
Mundy is proud of the path she’s left for others to follow in the future, she said.
“It’s amazing – to do it my senior year,” said Mundy. “Knowing I’m leaving a mark behind for younger people.”
Bruce credited the toughness of her teammates for finally breaking through after falling short previously.
“I’m very happy and relieved and I think we deserve it,” she said. “We’re a hard-working team and a special group of girls – no matter who we’re playing, we’re going to fight to the end.”
Lange will be making his second appearance with the Lady Panthers in the championship game, but the first as a Class 5A program and said this particular squad is especially memorable.
“To get there with this group of girls is a special thing for them and me,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve accomplished to this point and there’s still a little work to be done, but it’s nice to know you’re going to be playing on the last day of the season.”
Liberty Hill’s Gabby Mundy (2) scored a game-high 19 points in the Lady Panthers’ 44-33 victory over Barbers Hill in the state semifinals. PHOTO BY LORA ORTIZ
Lady Panthers senior Evie Bruce (5) helps cut the net down in celebration after Liberty Hill’s 44-33 victory over Barbers Hill in the state semifinals. PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH
Career crossroads
Panthers wrestling duo compete at state meet at different points
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER
One is at the end of her journey as a high-school wrestler, while the other is only halfway through hers, but for one final time, the paths for Panthers wrestlers Aubree Schubert and Alyciana Rogers crossed at the Class 5A state championships in February. Both were in their respective second seasons of grappling for the Purple-and-Gold and its second-year program, but senior Schubert said goodbye with a fifth-place result, while Rogers closed out her sophomore campaign with a second-place finish at the Berry Athletic Center in Cypress.
According to Liberty Hill head coach Danny Zieschang, the accomplishments of both in a relatively short amount of time competing in the sport is nothing short of remarkable.
“Incredible,” said Zieschang, who founded the team last season. “It’s a testament to the kids we have in Liberty Hill to go from absolutely nothing to a program that places two girls at state.”
Last year, Schubert qualified for the state event and finished sixth in the 145-pound division and rebounded this year by going 28-8 and returning to state, where she faced some early adversity due to having come down with the flu on the eve of the competition.
As a result, Schubert lost her first-round match and had to battle back through the consolation bracket in winning three straight matches before finally being defeated, signaling an end to her Liberty Hill
career.
However, Schubert gleaned a great deal of satisfaction with having defeated a nemesis along the way in defeating Isabella Saumell of Huntsville, who had beaten her in the previous season’s fifth-place match.
“For me, that was the highlight,” said Schubert, who won the bout by a technical fall with a 17-0 score. “One of my best matches overall.”
As for battling her own health in addition to her opponents, Schubert said she re-calibrated her strategy following the opening-round loss.
“In the first match, I came out and tried to be aggressive like always,” she said. “But, my body just wasn’t up to it because I was exhausted, so after that I had to approach it differently.”
With as much as two hours between matches, Schubert used that time for rest and recovery – with some emotional support to go with the physical side.
“I needed food and energy to keep going and I took naps,” said Schubert. “Also, my parents helped me a lot to regroup.”
For Rogers, her route to the cusp of a state title was more straightforward, having entered the event with a 26-0 record on the season in the 235-pound weight class and won her first three matches of the weekend by pinning her opponents, setting up a championship bout against defending state champion Ariana Chavez of Borger, who finished the season at 47-0.
Rogers had qualified for the state meet as a freshman last year, but lost in the consolation bracket by going 1-2 including a loss at
the hands of Chavez in the second round.
After having only taken up wrestling upon her arrival in high school, Rogers said she’s proud of how far she’s already progressed.
“This year was different for me because I had a lot more experience,” she said. “State was exciting, but still nerve-wracking.”
Zieschang said – unlike most wrestlers who choose to tune everything out before matches – Rogers is the polar opposite.
“Normally, once someone puts in their ear buds, they’re completely zoned out,” he said. “But, Alyciana likes to talk to people about almost anything but wrestling leading up to her matches.”
Despite being eliminated by the same opponent for the second straight season, Rogers believes the valuable knowledge she
gained in defeat will only help her on the road ahead.
“Seeing how she was able to get out of positions,” she said. “It gives me motivation to be better.”
Schubert will move on to compete in college next year, while Rogers will continue to hone her craft and Zieschang will add to the foundation of a Panthers squad that will see much more success in the future.
“For me, the relationship-building with all the kids has been the most gratifying aspect,” he said. “But, for us to finish 12th in the state with only two girls competing goes along with what we’re doing here, which isn’t just having a program, but building a winning one and being a part of it so far has been like being in a movie.”
At left, Panthers sophomore Alyciana Rogers finished second in the 235-pound weight class at the Class 5A state wrestling championships. At right, Panthers senior Aubree Schubert finished fifth in the 145-pound division at the Class 5A state wrestling championships. COURTESY PHOTOS
Liberty Hill’s Aubree Schubert and Alyciana Rogers both placed at the Class 5A state wrestling championships. COURTESY PHOTO
Presence where it counts
Emerging leader’s watchful eyes protect a winning formula in the making
BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER
There’s a growing club of soccer teams that most would prefer to steer clear of, given the chance.
Membership is by invitation only and the sole prerequisite is that you were held scoreless against the Legacy Ranch boys’ soccer team. Of their first seven opponents this season, all were inducted into the not-so-prestigious club and the lion’s share of credit goes to Austin Edwards, the young man between the sticks for the Wranglers.
Legacy Ranch head coach Russ Girard was quick to point out his high-caliber performance on the field.
“Not only has he kept shutouts, but the quality of his play is really, really impressive,” said Girard, while also speaking to his No. 1 goalkeeper’s character and level of enthusiasm. “Him as a person is the most impressive. After every practice, he thanks me. He comes up to me to shake my hand or give me a fist bump.”
Edwards’ words were succinct and straight to the point, yet he admitted, although those who are close to him might disagree, he can be somewhat introverted at times. Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, “Silence is a source of great strength,” and Edwards’ presence suggests an inherent connection to such wisdom. Though quiet by nature, his voice carries weight when actions alone simply won’t do, something Girard noted as a major deciding factor in naming him team captain.
“When he does talk and he does have something to say – people listen,” he said. With the new-school smell still prevalent in the air, Edwards spoke of the solidarity of the team and the momentum that continues to build within Legacy Ranch as a whole as it writes chapter one of its autobiography.
“Every day, we get closer as a team,” he said. “We’re connecting a lot, talking to each other and really getting to know each other. I think that helps and it’s part of the reason we’ve been winning a lot. It’s that chemistry.”
Edwards continued down the list as he gave credit to all who continue to motivate him to perform at his best.
“My teammates,” he said. “Because they help me in every way. Our coaches, too –they help us improve every day. And my family, I just want to make them proud. And our school. I want our school to be good – to
have a good name.”
Edwards didn’t stop there and quickly answered the question of who inspires him the most.
“God,” he said. “Because he just helps me do everything. He’s a role model. I want to follow his ways.”
Fully aware of the opportunity at hand, Edwards looks forward to taking this Year One team and seeing it through to its first varsity season. With a clear understanding of Girard’s expectation that “this is a winning program,” he explains his vision of that coming day.
“I feel like it will be really intense,” said Edwards. “But if we keep playing at the level we’re playing at now and we keep improving, I feel like we’ll have a good chance to do what we’re doing now.”
Wranglers team captain Austin Edwards (1) has played a critical role in goals this season, including seven consecutive shutouts in a row. COURTESY PHOTO
The Legacy Ranch boys’ soccer team hopes to log a winning inaugural season in the books with a current record of 8-5-2. COURTESY PHOTO
PHOTOS BY ALEX RUBIO
Lady Panthers basketball team earns second place
One time Liberty Hill resident’s exploits inspired TV’s ‘Lone Ranger’ series
BY JAMES WEAR COLUMNIST
“Hi-Ho, Silver! Away!” It’s a phrase that triggers memories for many of us.
Ask any boy who grew up in the 1950s or 60s and they’re likely to tell you their favorite television show revolved around the adventures of the Lone Ranger and his Native American sidekick, Tonto. The series opened and closed with the Lone Ranger shouting the phrase. What many don’t realize is, according to some historians, the character was based on the adventures of a man who once called Liberty Hill home.
John R. Hughes was born in Cambridge, Ill., in 1855. When he was 10, his family moved, first to Dixon, Ill.; and then on to Mound City, Kan. At 14 he struck out on his own and took a job as a cowboy. He left the ranch and traveled into Native American territory where he spent time with different tribes, learning much about the Native American way of life. He later was employed as a trail driver on the Chisholm Trail before moving on to Central Texas in the mid-1860s. He bought a farm near Liberty Hill and it was here an incident occurred that would change his life. Historians say a group of thieves stole several horses from one of Hughes’ neighbors and Hughes took off after the bandits, killing at least two of them before rounding up the remainder of the outlaws in what would later become New Mexico, and returned the stolen horses to his neighbor.
His pursuit, which took place over several months, attracted the attention of the Texas Rangers. One of those Rangers, Ira Aten, invited Hughes to join him in tracking down Judd Roberts, a known murderer. The pair caught up with Roberts, with Aten gunning him down and soon after, apparently impressed by Hughes’ skills, paved the way for Hughes to join the Rangers in 1887.
During his career, which lasted until his retirement in January 1915, Hughes devoted much of his time serving with the Frontier Battalion that was charged with protecting the Mexico-Texas border. In 1900 he was promoted to captain and later became a senior captain with the Rangers.
In an article that appeared in a 1927 issue of Frontier Times Magazine, Captain Hughes was quoted as saying, “I enlisted at Georgetown, on August 10, 1887, expecting then to stay only six or eight months. Riding 700 miles on horseback I reached headquarters camp at Camp Wood, in Nueces Canyon, November 12. That same winter we moved camp to Rio Grande City, remaining in that section a year and a half, during which time we had many exciting experiences. Among other things the Garza War was started. I arrested Catarina Garza in August 1888, for criminal libel, complaint being made by Victor Sebra. Sebra afterward shot Garza and two companies of Rangers were sent there to attend to the mob. I was the first ranger to arrive. Later it was I who arrested Charles F. Dodge, wanted in New York in connection with the Morse-Dodge case, which afterwards became so notorious. I took him to Houston and held him a week at a hotel while a legal battle was being fought over him, and finally delivered him to Judge Waller T. Burns.
“I have always been a horseback Ranger and have worked in every county on the Rio Grande from El Paso to Brownsville. In 1902 I was stationed at old Fort Hancock. A young man stole a horse at Ysleta and a county official wrote, asking me to catch him and return the horse. He also told a newspaper reporter that I would catch the man, and the El Paso Herald told of the horse being stolen and said that Captain Hughes was on his trail and was certain to catch him as I had never failed. I was absent from my camp on a scout when the message arrived, but returned two or three
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
$25 for Minimum 30 Words (Print Edition), Additional Words $0.20 Contact us for Online Rates NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.COM
Trusted Caring Hands LLC Compassionate and reliable home care services. Personalized care for your loved ones. Ask about qualifying for VA services and long-term care. Call Nicole today! 737-218-6269 | www.trustedcaringhands.com
days later and read the letter and the paper. I started right away on his trail and caught the man about 300 miles away and took him to the El Paso jail.
“Unfortunately, I have been in several engagements where desperate criminals were killed. I have never lost a battle that I was in personally, and never let a prisoner escape. The longer I hold a prisoner the closer I watch him. I got my promotion all the way from private to captain by my superior officers being killed by bandits. Sergeant Charles Fusselman was killed by smugglers in the Franklin Mountains, April 17, 1890, and I was promoted to his place. Captain Frank Jones was killed on Pirate Island by Mexicans on June 30, 1893, and I was appointed by Governor Hogg to fill his place. My appointment as Captain is dated July 4, 1893.
“For several years I did not expect to live to the age l am now. I expected to be killed by criminals. An officer who hunts desperate criminals has no business having a wife and family and I have remained single. I have an interesting scrap book, and many of my friends have insisted that I should write a book of my life as a Ranger. I do not expect to do so, however as I have accumulated enough of this world’s goods to keep the wolf away from my door and do not crave notoriety.”
Upon his retirement, the San Antonio Express-News ran a story featuring Captain Hughes, with the article noting, “The Southwest has produced and developed some remarkable men, but none who possesses a more wonderful life story than that which
Hughes could relate. As a gunfighter he probably far outranks any peace officer either in or out of the Ranger service. How many men he has killed in the discharge of his official duties he will not say. He has never taken human life except it was, a case of kill or be killed. Notwithstanding his long years of hard service, his meeting up with all kinds and conditions of men, he is still as modest as a schoolgirl. The mere suggestion of publishing in a newspaper an account of some of his daring deeds brings a blush to his bronzed face. He not only opposes the idea, but he cannot be induced to talk about any of the stirring events of his career. There are many men on the border, however, who are able to give the desired information.”
Hughes’ story did not have a happy ending. By the 1940s he was in poor health and living with a niece in Austin.
At the age of 92, on June 3, 1947, he took his own life. He is buried in the state cemetery in Austin.
One time Liberty Hill resident John R. Hughes inspired the “Lone Ranger” television series. COURTESY PHOTO
EVENTS CALENDAR
March 8
HOP AROUND THE HILL BOUTIQUE
CRAWL
Liberty Hill Boutiques
Across Liberty Hill 10 a.m.-5 p.m. facebook.com/holidayaroundthehill
March 10
MASTER GARDENER
MONTHLY MEETING
Williamson County Master Gardener 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown (Georgetown Annex)
6:45-8 p.m. txmg.org/williamson
March 14
CHRISTIAN FAMILY BARN DANCE
Wiiliamson County Cowboy Church
8111 FM 1869, Liberty Hill
6:30-10 p.m. www.facebook.com/ events/481500115033062
March 13
THURSDAY TERRIFIC TRIVIA
Forrest Coffee House 103 Forrest St., Liberty Hill
6:30-9:30 p.m. www.facebook.com/event ts/2036514720137455/207326050979 6209/
Molly Lee Watson Field, a woman whose spirit, warmth, and dedication touched the lives of so many. Molly’s journey began on March 15, 1939, in Oatmeal, Texas, where she was born to Carl and Alberta Watson. From an early age, she demonstrated the strength and determination that would define her life. Whether it was in the classrooms of Oatmeal School, or the courts and fields of high school sports, Molly’s passion and drive were evident. As a Majore e, Drum Major, and the proud titleholder of Miss Bertram High School, she set a standard for excellence and leadership.
A er high school, Molly’s journey took her to Austin. She worked for the Texas Land Office before meeting and marrying an Air Force Lieutenant, Oliver Field. This union would lead her to Merced, California, and the beginning of an adventurous and fulfilling life.
March 15
LUCKY LEPRECHAUN TEA PARTY
Michelle’s Patisserie
1908 Main St., Liberty Hill
12:30-2 p.m. michellespatisserie.com
BUILD-A-BIRDHOUSE DAY
McCoy’s
2505 Hwy 1869, Liberty Hill
10 a.m.-2 p.m. www.facebook.com/ events/681696840953041
March 22
CITY WIDE PRAYER GATHERING
Liberty Hill Middle School
13125 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 10-11 a.m. www.facebook.com/ events/1178242193665142
CAFFEINE & CARS
Bond Motor Works/Bebop Coffee Shop
925 N. Hwy. 183, Liberty Hill 10 a.m.-12 p.m. facebook.com/bondmotorworks
March 28
FRIDAYZ WITH KEN AND RENEE
Liberty Hill Beer Market 13851 W. Highway 29, Liberty Hill 6:30-8:30 p.m. www.facebook.com/ events/1564896777563199
THE DECADES
The Vineyard at Florence 111 Via Francesco Way, Florence 6-9 p.m. facebook.com/Decades60s70s80s
STAR PARTY
Liberty Hill Public Library/Liberty Hill Save Our Stars 355 Main St., Liberty Hill 7-10 p.m. lhpl.org
Molly Lee Watson Field
One of Molly’s most remarkable achievements was her groundbreaking career as a Flight A endant with United Airlines. In 1978, she became the oldest flight a endant hired by the airline at the time, a role she embraced for 32 years. Molly’s travels took her all over the world, including during the tumultuous days of Desert Storm and on numerous Presidential candidate flights. She was a woman of courage, grace, and resilience, whose work le a lasting legacy.
Molly’s life was not without heartache, having lost two beloved sons, Anthony Jerome Field and Richard Carlise Field. However, through it all, her love for her family never wavered.
She leaves behind Oliver Field and her sons, Michael Jo Field and wife Monica, and Oliver C. Field III and wife Sydney, as well as her treasured grandchildren, Sarah Field and Oliver Field IV.
She is also survived by her sister, Polly Watson
Krenek, husband Michael, and many nephews and two nieces who will carry her memory forward.
Though Molly has passed from this life, her legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew her. She was more than just a daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother—she was a woman who touched lives with her kindness, laughter, and unyielding love.
A memorial service to honor her life will be held on March 8 at 11:00 a.m. at the Oatmeal Cemetery, with visitation and lunch to follow at the Oatmeal Community Center. We invite all who knew and loved Molly to join us in celebrating the wonderful person she was.
May her memory be a blessing and may her love continue to guide and inspire us.
Condolences and memories may be offered to www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.
March 29
THE MARKET LHTX
Louine Noble Elementary 101 Main St., Liberty Hill 10 a.m.-2 p.m. themarketlhtx.com
TOUCH-A-TRUCK
Divine Savior Academy 23857 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Liberty Hill 10 a.m.-1 p.m. divinesavioracademy.com
CHILDREN’S BUSINESS FAIR
Invictus: An Acton Academy
353 Main St., Lions Foundation Park 2-5 p.m. invictusleander.org
SUNNY SWEENEY
Globe Theatre
132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 8 p.m., $25-200 globetheatretx.com
