May 2024 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

May 2024 | LHIndepende LHIndependent.com t.com

Can You Dig It? Native Plant Rescue Project working with local developers to save rare plants

Hope House teams up with HomeAid to build two new duplexes p.12

Liberty Hill resident celebrates 100th birthday this month p.16

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CONTENTS FEATURES 8 | COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT Take a look at the projects in motion across Liberty Hill, including fast food 10 | NATIVE PLANT RESCUE PROJECT Local group rescues plants located at future development sites across WilCo

12 | NEW HOMES FOR HOPE HOUSE Local nonprofit Hope House has teamed up with HomeAid to build new homes 14 | BOUTIQUE CLOSURES A look at the several Liberty Hill boutiques that have closed in 2024

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16 | LIBERTY HILL CENTENARIAN Local woman celebrating her 100th birthday in May

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18 | NEWS ROUND UP News stories affecting the Liberty Hill community today 20 | A LEGACY OF LITERATURE LHISD employee authors children’s book based on her own children 23 | HIRING OUR HEROES Liberty Hill resident aims to bring program for military veterans to town 24 | GAME OF THE MONTH April Panthers’ baseball game makes big impression on season

26 | SOFTBALL Lady Panthers slugger has powerful presence on the field 29 | TRACK & FIELD High jumpers know proper techniques for ‘raising the bar’ 31 | TENNIS New players to the game taking spring season in stride 32 | PANTHER OF THE MONTH Meet Colby Demars of the Panthers baseball team 33 | GOLF Senior golfer learned skills from family at a young age DEPARTMENTS 7 | BIZ BRIEFS 34 | WORSHIP GUIDE 36 | LOCAL EVENTS

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ABOUT OUR COVER

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Kirsten Anderson and Sherry Koorie, volunteers with the Native Plant Rescue Project, dig up rare plants at a soon-to-be-developed site in the Butler Farms subdivision in Liberty Hill in mid-April.

PHOTO BY ANNA McVEY

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BIZ BRIEFS: What’s New?

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

RETAIL

FOOD & BEVERAGE Whataburger 12925 Hwy. 29 The City of Liberty Hill's Planning & Zoning Commission recently announced Whataburger is coming to Liberty Hill. It will be located in the Heritage Ridge development, alongside other quick service restaurants, including Panda Express, Bojangles, Starbucks, Wendy's and Popeyes.

The Frozen Affair 325 Hwy. 29, Bertram The Frozen Affair is opening May 3 in Bertram, and will offer customers a variety of cool treats like ice cream and lemonades.

Prepped Meal Service 217 CR 214, Liberty Hill (inside WORC Fitness Studio) Kristen Gunter, co-owner of WORC Fitness Studio, recently launched a weekly meal service called Prepped Meal Service. Healthy, balanced meals can be ordered and picked up weekly at WORC. OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS • Patricia's Kitchen Tacos Madre 10817 CR 272, Bertram • Magic Snow Cone and More 136 CR 214, Liberty Hill • Honu Shaved Ice 14251 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

Modire Online, Liberty Hill Liberty Hill resident Bibie Omo-Alashe Brown recently launched Modire, an online shop that sells scrubs and accessories using colorful African fabrics while also celebrating cultural heritage, diversity and inclusion.

MG Brick & Stone 12830 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill Rhome, Texas-based MG Brick & Stone recently opened a second location in Liberty Hill.

The business offers a variety of supplies, including bricks, stone and thin veneers.

SERVICES Liberty Hill Athletics 987 N. Hwy. 183, Liberty Hill Liberty Hill resident Charles Himmer is opening an indoor gym and fitness facility called Liberty Hill Athletics. The facility offers an indoor court and private weight room, and is also available to book for private events.

123 Playroom 13750 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 123 Playroom, an indoor,

Montessori-style playroom for children, is opening in the former location of WORC Fitness Studio. The playroom will offer open play, private playdates, birthday parties and mommy-and-me classes for children ages 0 to 6.

Bertram • Alvarez Cleaning Services Mobile, Liberty Hill • Anchored Exteriors Mobile, Liberty Hill • Lonestar Pipe Precast 10975 FM 487, Florence

ON THE MOVE Freedom Bikes 1201 Main St., Liberty Hill Downtown Liberty Hill business Freedom Bikes celebrated its second year in business in April.

Afterglow Integrative Esthetics & Wellness 7600 Hwy. 29, Georgetown At Afterglow Integrative, Dana Kataoka offers clients a personalized approach to beauty and wellness, through services like red light therapy, integrative facials, waxing, tinting, scalp treatments and more. Kataoka was previously associated with Royal Bliss Day Spa. Visit afterglowwellness.glossgenius.com for more information.

Poppy Lane Boutique Online, Liberty Hill Poppy Lane Boutique, which used to be located inside Main Street Marketplace, has moved to mobile pop ups and online only. Poppy Lane specializes in custom shirts and hats and offers local pick up and delivery for orders.

5-Way Beer Barn 3583 Hwy. 183, Briggs 5-Way Beer Barn, a drive-thru beer barn offering beer, wine and snacks, closed its doors in April.

Dr. Rev. Brad King

Dashboard Local Online, Liberty Hill Becky Tamez of Liberty Hill recently launched Dashboard Local, a full-service digital marketing and communications company that supports small businesses.

The Standard on Vaughan 145 E. Vaughan St., Bertram The Standard on Vaughan celebrated its one-year anniversary in April.

Amber Jackson, Pure Remedy Massage Therapy 100 Church St., Liberty Hill In March, the Liberty Hill City Council unanimously voted to appoint Amber Jackson, owner of Pure Remedy Massage Therapy, to the Downtown Revitalization Committee.

She was sworn in on April 23 and is honored to serve in this capacity.

Vista Family Eye Care 14125 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill In May, Vista Family Eye Care is celebrating one year in business. A ribbon cutting will be held May 8 at 5:15 p.m. followed by an open house reception. There will be food and drink, live music by Ruel Thomas, and face painting and balloons by Silly Sparkles from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Text 737707-2155 to RSVP. Phil Monday, Epique Online, Liberty Hill In April, local real estate agent Phil Monday shared he would be moving from Keller Williams to Epique. He will continue to operate under Monday Realty Group.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• The Wellness Zone 14001 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill • Central Texas Motorsports Liberty Hill • Quiet Waters Plumbing Mobile, Liberty Hill • Dr. Burgos Endodontics 2021 Kauffman Loop, Liberty Hill • Nail Salon (name TBD) 163 E. Vaughan St., Bertram • Health Different Chiropractic 1900 Main St., Liberty Hill • Recovery Alternatives Online, Liberty Hill • KOLORWORKS Custom Paint Shop

cluding paving and wastewater improvements for drives and parking.

Dr. Rev. Brad King, Cross Tracks Church Dr. Rev. Brad King was recently announced as the new head pastor at Cross Tracks Church.

King has spent the last four years as an associate pastor at First United Methodist Church of Austin.

Benmark Supply Co. 15405 Hwy. 29 Benmark Supply Co. is making several upgrades and changes to its Liberty Hill location, in-

OPENING A BUSINESS? JUST PROMOTED? MOVING LOCATIONS? SHARE YOUR BUSINESS NEWS WITH US! Email news@LHIndependent.com

Information gathered from the City of Liberty Hill, Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation, TDLR, LoopNet and Williamson County ESD No. 4.

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NEWS

Fast growth, new business Commercial development continues to flourish across Liberty Hill

BY ODALIS A. SUAREZ

STAFF WRITER

One by one, and sometimes two by two, new businesses are making their way to the Liberty Hill area. The growth is moving at a constant pace, bringing changes to the city’s landscape along with it.

With so much change in the works, the City of Liberty Hill’s Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) is working behind the scenes with up-and-coming businesses to assure all development is moving along appropriately.

“Being in planning and zoning, we know what’s moving right in the right direction in our city,” said Bryan Rivera, a commissioner on the P&Z Commission. “We want to make sure things are done right; we want to make sure that things are done clearly; and one thing our commission talks about is transparency—we want to be a very transparent planning and zoning commission.”

The P&Z Commission works off a Projects in Motion report, which is publicly available

on the City’s website (www.libertyhilltx.gov) and itemizes the projects in progress within the city limits and the extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ).

Going through the necessary processes of working with the P&Z Commission are approximately 34 commercial projects alone.

The majority of these projects are currently in the plat or site plan approval phase.

For dining options, Panda Express, Bojangles, Wendy’s, Popeyes and Whataburger are actively being worked on in the Heritage Ridge area next to Liberty Hill Middle School.

Whataburger and Popeyes are not listed in the recent Projects in Motion report, but previous reports from The Independent have confirmed both restaurants are also setting roots in the Heritage Ridge development. Blue Sky Burgers, which had previously planned to open a restaurant in the development, is no longer moving forward with its project in that development.

La Tequila Jalisco, the restaurant that will take the place of the now demolished red barn across State Highway 29 from Liberty Hill Beer Market, is still working on revisions that were requested by the P&Z Commission, but still intends to open a restaurant at that site.

Jiffy Lube owners Melanie and Arun Balakrishnan (center) stand with members of their team at the Liberty Hill Jiffy Lube groundbreaking ceremony in February. Jiffy Lube will be located just outside the Stonewall Ranch subdivision, adjacent to several other vehicle-related service businesses. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

Wendy’s, seen under construction here, is one of the many quick service restaurants coming to the Heritage Ridge development, where Starbucks is located. Other restaurants that will be built soon include Popeyes, Panda Express, Bojangles and Whataburger. PHOTO BY ODALIS SUAREZ On the north side of State Highway 29, at the entrance of the Stonewall Ranch subdivision, there will soon be an expanded line of car service offerings. Jiffy Lube, Velocity Tire and Brakes Plus are all currently under construction adjacent to Auto Zone. Additionally, paint store Sherwin Williams will also be located alongside those businesses.

“People that are coming from our county roads won’t have to go to a town over or drive to [Leander] or Burnet to find those things,” Rivera said. “That’s really important for our city as it grows, that we have restaurants and stores. Everybody wants to shop close to home, so I think that’s a really good thing.”

Aside from the identified food and service brands, the remainder of the commercial properties listed are categorized as commercial, retail, mixed-used or convenience store locations.

As the influx of fast-food establishments continues and the number of car repair services stack up, the redundancy and limited diversity of business types may leave some residents with a thirst for more variation.

However, Liberty Hill has blossomed into such an attractive site for business that it’s nearly impossible for it to avoid the big chains that are seeping in, said Mary Poche, director of economic development for the Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation.

“Because we are in a hot, high growth area, business interest in locations is high,” she said. “If zoning is correct and the property the prospect wishes to purchase is worked out with the seller of the property, there is not anything the EDC can do to stop that from happening. When the project kicks off

and city planning is involved for review of the development agreement, and eventually the permits to start building, there would be more rules that could be imposed, but only then. If the demographics are right for the business looking for a new location, they will come.”

While there is an inevitability of commercial growth coming to Liberty Hill, there still lies an opportunity for the community to participate in its trajectory, which can start at public hearings during P&Z Commission meetings, Rivera said.

“I really ask that people get involved,” he added. “It’s not about coming to complain, it’s about getting involved and being a part of the conversation.”

For more information on upcoming multifamily and commercial projects, visit the City of Liberty Hill’s P&Z Commission page at www.libertyhilltx.gov/158/planning-zoning.

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COVER STORY

Rooted in the rescue

Local group works with developers to preserve uncommon, rare plants in Williamson County

BY ODALIS A. SUAREZ

STAFF WRITER

Off Bronco Boulevard in Liberty Hill is the future site of what will soon be a Goodwill. However, before a groundbreaking ever begins, developers have recruited the assistance of the Native Plant Rescue Project – an organization with a mission to save the uncommon and rare native plants of Williamson County.

Ashley Landry is the founder of the Native Plant Rescue Project for Williamson County; a subgroup that is part of the Native Plant Society of Texas. She received her Texas Master Naturalist certification in 2021.

A year later in 2022 she started the Native Plant Rescue Project in an effort to rehome uncommon plants as well as rare plant types as listed on the species of greatest conservation need lists by the Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Her focus was to preserve plants that would otherwise be destroyed from development within the Williamson County area.

“I spent over a year learning our native flora and understanding how special they were,” said Landry. “I wanted those to be conserved and available for people doing restorations and I knew that a lot of these plants were not being used during development; they were just being destroyed because you have to destroy them. I thought that’s the perfect source to get some of these uncommon plants and to save them and make as big of impact as we possibly can with them through conservation.”

CSW Development, the developer in charge of the Goodwill project, has welcomed Native Plant Rescue Project volunteers to the site on more than one occasion in order to save a number of uncommon plants including the Lindheimers Paintbrush and the Green Comet Milkweed.

“CSW Development has been extremely

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

Above, from left, Carrie Ellerbe, Ashley Landry, Sherry Koorie and Kirsten Anderson are just four of the approximately 50 volunteers who join the Native Plant Rescue Project almost weekly to save uncommon and rare plants at sites across Williamson County that are soon to be developed, many of which are in Liberty Hill. At right, members of the Native Plant Rescue Project search for uncommon and rare plants at a soon-to-be-developed site in the Butler Farms subdivision in midApril. PHOTOS BY ANNA MCVEY

COVER STORY bringing the plants out of the supportive of our efforts, and ground. They’ll later transport without them we couldn’t be them to safety and replant here,” said Landry. “We really them in a location where they depend upon our partnerwon’t be compromised. ships with landowners. We Williamson County currentcould not do this project ly has no native plants listed without the landowners, and at the state or federal level as we really appreciate their endangered. cooperation.”

The organization works with In the last two years, the the Austin and San Antonio Native Plant Rescue Project conservation departments to has completed 75 rescues, assure the plants are headed with 20 of those being speto the best destination to carry cifically in the Liberty Hill on. area. Notable projects include “What this project has found the future home of Legacy that I think is amazing, is there Ranch High School on County are other paths to conserRoad 258, and the Liberty Hill vation,” said Kenny Pailes, a Bypass project, which broke volunteer with the Native Plant ground in January 2024.

Rescue Project. “In this case, “This is an innovative way it’s working with the developer to be able to preserve some of Each plant rescued by volunteers of the Native Plant Rescue Project are dug up underneath the roots so they can be transported and planted safely somewhere else. PHOTO BY ANNA and land that is already going the plants and still embrace MCVEY to be developed, so there’s no what’s coming as far as new turning that clock back. The construction,” said William‘if we don’t stop it’ [mentality] isn’t really in son County Commissioner Cynthia Long. “It attendees per project. They work on about play. We’re not looking for an endangered allows you to preserve a little bit of the old three to four projects a month. Once on beetle or spider in this case—we’re just while embracing the new.” site, the team flags plants that match the ungoing to save the things that were going to The Native Plant Rescue Project has a common and rare species they want to save. get paved over anyway. It’s amazing to me team of about 50 volunteers, with 12 to 15 Next, they gently dig underneath the roots,

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how many developers will open their land to us to do that.”

Landry added that the organization is focused on partnering only with properties that are soon to break ground for development. She hopes one day that more developers will use the Native Plant Rescue Project as a best practice move, and make conservation and preservation a phase in their development process.

To learn more about the Native Plant Rescue Project, visit nativeplantrescueproject.org.

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NEWS

Hope House teams up with HomeAid, Austin philanthropist

Local nonprofit to build two new duplexes on Liberty Hill property with help from area builders, suppliers

BY RACHEL MADISON

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Liberty Hill’s Hope House will soon have two new duplexes to house 16 more children thanks to a partnership with Austin-based nonprofit organization HomeAid and a substantial donation from Austin philanthropist Dick Rathgeber.

For more than 55 years, Hope House has provided forever care to children and adults with the most severe mental and physical disabilities.

Hope House was founded in 1967 by German immigrant Rose McGarrigle, who relocated to Austin and realized the great need locally for care for those with disabilities.

“Hope House started in Austin in Rose’s garage apartment,” said Erland Schulze, development director for Hope House.

“She would drive all over Austin in her red Volkswagen bus and find disabled children to care for. She did this with no state or federal support. Long story short, people started taking an interest in what she was doing. In 1977, 11 acres of land was donated just outside Liberty Hill and that’s how we ended up here.”

Since then, Hope House has maintained a home on that original 11 acres, located about six miles down County Road 285, where children ranging from ages 5 to 17 are given around-the-clock care from people like Gutierrez. Duplex-style homes in downtown Liberty Hill serve the adults who are cared for by Hope House.

Now, with the promise of two new duplexes coming online in Liberty Hill, Hope House will be able to continue its original mission of providing forever homes to those with severe disabilities.

Schulze said he recently learned of HomeAid and knew the organization would be a good fit for Hope House’s goals.

“We gave them a tour and they just loved what we do here, so they have put together a project where they are going to get two homes built for us,” he said. “These two homes will be duplexes similar to the ones we have now.”

HomeAid is a local affiliate of a national organization called HomeAid America, which has 19 affiliates across the United States. The Austin affiliate has been in operation since 2018.

HomeAid’s first step in helping Hope House was offering a bus tour to local build-

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ers and suppliers so they could see Hope House in person and hear about its mission firsthand. Lynne Williams, executive director of HomeAid, said the organization’s main goal centers around housing people through construction, community engagement and education.

“We work with the building industry and the service providers, and basically bring them together so that we can build projects for at least 30, 50 or 100 percent reduction in cost,” she said. “We’ll ask providers to donate materials or labor for the projects, because construction is expensive. Most nonprofits are trying to raise money just to help their people, so we want them to be able to keep focusing on that mission while we help them build their house.”

Williams added that HomeAid’s goal is to get the two duplexes built for under $500,000 for both. Currently, the organization is looking for a builder captain to serve as general contractor on the project, as well as local builders and suppliers who want to donate labor and supplies.

“We plan to save Hope House well over 50 percent of the project costs,” Williams said.

“Once we choose our builder captain, which we hope to do in the next couple of weeks, we’ll get site planning done and then hope to break ground on July 1.We’ll host an open house as well to bring contractors out to the site, because when they see the mission, I know they’ll want to sign on.”

Along with HomeAid on board to help secure builders at a reduced cost, Rathberger, a well-known Austin philanthropist, has donated enough money to construct both duplexes.

“He’s made the project possible,” Schulze said. “We’re so appreciative, because he’s done so much good in the community, and the fact that he realized the need we have here at Hope House is an honor. We are so blessed he is a part of this program.”

Rathberger told The Independent he’s very excited about the project, adding that he gets involved in projects like this based on return on invest, and this project has a high return on investment.

“The Bible tells us whatever you’ve done to least of these my brethren, you’ve done it unto me,” he said. “It’s a real opportunity to be involved in this, and I’m not a spring chicken—I just turned 91. I’ve never found anybody who has figured out how to take your money with you. Plus, it’s more fun

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

Above and right, renderings of the future duplexes for Hope House are shown.

The two duplexes will house eight residents each, and will be located on property Hope House already owns on County Road 285 in Liberty Hill.

Hope House’s original home is also located on that property.

COURTESY GRAPHICS

giving money away than making it anyway.”

For his impact to the project, Shulze said the duplexes will be named after Rathgeber and his wife, Sara.

Right now, Hope House has 38 residents.

About six to eight applications are turned down a month for prospective residents, Schulze said, because Hope House just doesn’t have room.

“We can fill as many homes as we can build, so these two homes are going to be a big deal,” he said. “When we get new residents, they come to us as children and then we keep them as long as they need us.”

HomeAid will assist Hope House with other aspects of the project after the duplexes are built, like landscaping, fencing and more.

“Every time I see people’s faces when things are done and we’ve saved them money and they’re so grateful, I think, ‘This is a great mission,’” Williams said. “I’m really proud of the things HomeAid can accomplish.”

Both Schulze and Williams said there are also plenty of ways for the community to get involved through donations.

“We hope people in the community will see the value of giving, because the more people we have involved, the better,” Schulze said.

For more information or to get involved with the project, email Schulze at eschulze@hopehouseaustin.org or Williams at lynne@homeaid.org.

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13

BUSINESS

Influx of Liberty Hill boutiques closing their doors

Closure of several stores dwindles local shopping options indicating that the businesses themselves would continue in one form or another.

Viridian Rowe owners Kellie Olisky and Kristal Mabbett David reassured customers In March, Liberty Hill residents were subthat their “retail journey isn’t over it’s just jected to one social media post after another evolving” and that they wanted “to create more of local boutiques announcing closures of unique things and need a different type of their businesses. Liberty Hill Outfitters, space for that.”

Viridian Rowe and Ginger Roots Boutique all Whitney Petroski, owner of Ginger Roots announced they were closing their doors.

Boutique, shared that her family was preAdditionally, Hill Country Hickster quietly paring to move to the Stephenville area. She closed its doors in early 2024 without an also added that she would be turning her announcement. focus “to our Hico With Liberty location [and] to also Hill starting to be spend this last year well-known for cheering on my son its multiple bouduring his senior tique shopping football season…” options in recent The Liberty Hill years, it raises location of Ginger many questions Roots will be open as to why this is until July 31. Petroshappening and ki will then pivot how it will impact her focus full time the community. to her Hico, Texas The first location of Ginger announcement Roots, which opened came on March in 2023. She will 6 from Liberty also continue to sell Hill Outfitters. In items through her a Facebook post, online store. owner Danyel Reflecting on Cake wrote there her three and a half were “multifacyears of business in eted reasons” Liberty Hill, Petroswhy she decided ki shared some to close her feedback on what business, which more can be done was located on to support local Main Street in Danyel Cake, owner of Liberty Hill Outfitters, stands outside downtown Liberty her store on Main Street in downtown Liberty Hill shortly after businesses.

“I will be pretty Hill. the store opened in 2022. Cake announced in March she would frank about the fact “She was here be closing her store for “multifaceted reasons.” FILE PHOTO that I think that the for [two] years, and city pushes downshe has recently town a lot, which doesn’t make any sense, left just a couple of weeks ago and the properbecause the majority of the retail businesses ty is for lease,” said Kim Sanders, broker with are on the 29 corridor,” she said. “I think that Keller Williams Liberty Hill Group and the instead of doing that, they should promote agent spearheading the lease of the former shopping local. They did something [last Liberty Hill Outfitters location. “It’s got 1,625 month] for the 25th year of [the city] being square feet downstairs and 1,625 square feet incorporated with some of the restaurants upstairs. It’s for lease—both stories are for and they had glasses, so that was cool. I think lease. they should do something like that with retail.

Despite announcing they would be closing I definitely think that they could get more their brick-and-mortar locations in Liberty involved.”

Hill, boutiques Viridian Rowe and Ginger With these businesses packing inventory Roots each made their own social media posts

BY ODALIS A. SUAREZ

STAFF WRITER

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

Owners of Liberty Hill boutiques stand together at the Liberty Hill mural downtown after making a donation to Meals on Wheels for Williamson and Burnet County following this spring’s Hop Around the Hill boutique crawl.

Whitney Petroski (front row, left) and Danyel Cake (back row, right) are two of the boutique owners who announced in March they’d be closing their Liberty Hill stores. COURTESY PHOTO and the town left with vacant sites available, it leaves the community brainstorming on areas for improvement so that everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

“The only impediment that I would think about for downtown would be the parking,” Sanders said. “I just counted the steps from the water tower parking lot, and it was 112 steps, so to me, that’s not that many, but the public just has to know where the parking areas are downtown and know that, ‘Hey, I can get there quickly from that.’”

Hop Around the Hill (spring) and Holiday Around the Hill (fall) is a biannual boutique crawl that was started by local boutique owners five years ago in Liberty Hill. Despite being down several boutiques to be potential participants for the upcoming November event, organizers are still optimistic that the event will continue to be just as successful as in the past.

“We will pivot; we will talk about how can we still make it great and what does that look like, and we will move forward,” said Tami Spearman, owner of Simply Home Boutique and one of the Hop Around the Hill organizers. “We’ve already got plans for the November event and you know, we’re still tweaking those, but we’re excited about what it holds. We’ll move forward because we still want it. We created it for a special shopping event to draw people into Liberty Hill, and we can definitely still do that.”

Even with the loss of these local boutiques, community members still share a positive outlook for the future of local business.

“We have a downtown revitalization committee, and they’re working hard and I’m really excited to see their long-range plan,” said Sanders. “I can’t wait to see a schematic of what they have in mind and what they’d like to see downtown. I’m hopeful and looking forward to what they come out with. I think it’s going to be great.”

As beloved entrepreneurs and their businesses make their way out of Liberty Hill, the community now waits in anticipation of who or what will fill these voids and plant new roots in the city known as the small town with a big heart.

The Independent reached out to Hill Country Hickster owner Briget Skelton but did not receive a response. The Independent also reached out to Cake and Olisky. Both were unavailable for comment.

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Join us on Saturday, May 18, as we Celebrate our 25th Spring!

Seminars

 9 am - Water-Wise Gardening HCWG Staff  10 am - Composting Keep Austin Beautiful  11 am -Save the Monarchs Monarch Santuary Project

Food & Drinks

 Food Trucks - 11am  Sweets & Lemonade - 12pm  Local Wineries - 4pm  Local Breweries - 4pm

Live Music

 The Mighty Pelicans 12pm - 4pm  The Steel Belts 5pm - 8pm

Artisan Vendors Start at 11am  Nature Inspired Art & Jewelry  Crystals & Resin Art  Flower Arrangements  Travelling Fairy Gardens  Hot Sauce & Olive Oil

M AY 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

15

COMMUNITY

100 years young Liberty Hill centenarian has seen it all over the decades

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Back in 1924, Liberty Hill was certainly quite a different place than the bustling, ever-growing mini-metropolis it is today.

Celest Oliver should know.

After all, the longtime Liberty Hill resident was born that year and grew up in the local area before moving to Austin, then returning to her hometown for the later years of her life. Oliver will celebrate her 100th birthday on May 8.

Of course, there aren’t many others who were around a century ago and are still here to witness the massive changes Liberty Hill has gone through, but one thing is for sure – Oliver would prefer the good ol’ days to modern times.

“I like the old version better – we had three grocery stores, three filling stations and a movie theater,” said Oliver. “It doesn’t bother me how it is now, but I don’t love it.”

Oliver spent the first 33 years of her life in

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Liberty Hill and has many stories to tell about what it was like back then.

However, perhaps one stands out as an illustration of how different times were – especially during The Great Depression, when Oliver and her family were one of many across the country struggling to make ends meet. In 1934, the then-10-year-old decided to take matters into her own hands.

“It was Thanksgiving and we didn’t have money for a turkey – I was heartbroken,” said Oliver. “A neighbor of ours had turkeys in his yard and we lived near the railroad tracks.

So, I went over and threw some corn on the tracks and sure enough the turkeys went over to eat it. Well, the train came along and wham – all of a sudden we had turkey for Thanksgiving after all.”

There was just one problem, though, she said.

“Our neighbor never found out what happened,” said Oliver. “But, I felt so guilty I couldn’t eat the turkey.”

A self-described tomboy, Oliver played

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

Liberty Hill native Celest Oliver, who will celebrate her 100th birthday on May 8, compares and contrasts what her hometown was like nearly a century ago to the modern-day version.

COURTESY PHOTO

COMMUNITY

“Once I get to 100, my goal is at least two more years. I’ll just keep going as long as the Good Lord lets me.”

Liberty Hill Resident Celest Oliver

baseball in a local pickup league against male counterparts in a day and age when women’s sports were virtually nonexistent.

She said she held her own just fine against the big boys.

“I was a pitcher and got a lot of strikeouts playing against the men,” said Oliver. “My favorite team was the Braves and they still are.”

On a much more serious note, an 18-yearold Oliver also attempted to take up arms for her country when America was plunged into World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. However, she was rebuffed for a very good reason.

“I don’t know why I wanted to join so bad – I just did – I wanted for fight in the war and be a boy,” she said. “But, the doctor told me I was already three months pregnant – which I didn’t even know, so that was the end of that.”

Oliver also recounted an occurrence when a trip into town with her father resulted in yet another sign of the times.

“We went to the depot on a Sunday morning,” she said. “I was just sitting there on the porch and a man said a curse word in front of us. So, my father said ‘I don’t really appreciate you using that kind of language around my daughter.’ To which the man said ‘What daughter?’ Well, I was dressed like a boy in overalls, so after that my father went into Austin and bought me three or four dresses and threw all my old clothes away – it broke my heart.”

Oliver only attended school through eighth grade, but said it was another source of learning – a more spiritual one – that was

much more beneficial in the long run.

“I used to love Sunday School,” she said.

“I’ll tell you – I learned more there than in any other school. I just always did love Jesus.”

In recent years, Oliver was a regular attendee at gatherings of the Over the Hill Gang, a local seniors group, until she was no longer able to attend due to health reasons.

As she approaches the century mark, many of those she congregated with in those days have already taken leave of this life, she said.

“You look around and a lot of the people you knew aren’t there anymore,” said Oliver.

“I used to joke I was going to live to be 100 if I didn’t get shot by a jealous wife because all the men there would always hug and kiss me.”

Oliver has survived some health scares in recent years, including a bout with COVID at age 97, suffering from low sodium and being prescribed the incorrect medication, incidents that included hospital stays and time in an intensive care unit, but through it all she has continued to carry on.

“We call her our Energizer bunny,” said daughter Linda Cannon. “She just keeps going and going.”

Oliver had three children of her own, raised a pair of nieces and now has nine grandchildren to go with countless great and even great-great grandchildren. She said she plans to continue on as long as it’s in God’s plan.

“Once I get to 100, my goal is at least two more years,” she said. “I’ll just keep going as long as the Good Lord lets me.”

At left and right, photos of Liberty Hill native Celest Oliver over the years are shown. Oliver was born and raised in Liberty Hill. COURTESY PHOTOS

M AY 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

17

NEWS

From the City of Liberty Hill to the LHISD, read our roundup to learn more about the biggest news stories affecting our community COMPILED BY LIBERT Y HILL INDEPENDENT STAFF

WilCo celebrates addition of new medic station in Liberty Hill with ribbon cutting ceremony

to our emergency resources enables us to maintain our commitment to delivering pre-eminent care to Williamson County,” said Williamson County EMS Director Mike Knipstein. “I would like to thank the Williamson County Commissioners Court and Liberty Hill Fire Department for their invaluable support and collaboration in making this possible.”

Williamson County leaders celebrated the City renames parkland in addition of a new Williamson County Emerhonor of former resident gency Medical Services (WCEMS) medic station to Liberty Hill Fire Station 2 in April. The In a nod to its rich historical roots, the City of Former Mayor Liz Branigan (second from left) and Parks Board Member Lisa Messana (center) stand with members of the Fisk family at a city council meeting in February. A park located in the Larkspur subdivision and owned by the crews were added to the station in response to Liberty Hill recently renamed parkland it owns City of Liberty Hill was renamed after the Fisk family in late March. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON an increase in call volume and growth in the located within the Larkspur neighborhood to area.

Fisk-Cashion Park.

Mayor’s yearly stipend remembers.

“This medic station will service three of Originally presented at the Feb. 14 city counduced from $40,000 to The recommendation to rename the park as the fastest-growing neighborhoods in Central cil meeting, the proposal garnered widespread Fisk-Cashion Park stems from a collaborative Texas,” said Williamson County Judge Bill support and enthusiasm from residents and $18,000 effort between the Parks and Recreation Board Gravell. “The call volume here has increased officials alike and was unanimously passed at and Mariann Fisk-Laughlin, the great-greatby 103 percent from 2017 to 2022, proving that an April council meeting.

The City Council recently voted to reduce the great granddaughter of Judge Greenleaf Fisk, a this medic station is absolutely needed.”

Under the guidelines of the city’s renaming mayor’s annual stipend. prominent figure in Liberty Hill’s history who WCEMS added one ambulance that will run policy, a mandatory 30-day period ensued The last comprehensive review and approval was pivotal in shaping the community’s early 24/7 and is staffed by six medics in total. The following the initial public hearing. No further of mayoral and council compensation was done development. Fisk and his father-in-law owned station includes sleeping quarters and office public comments were received during this on Dec. 29, 2020. However, with the upcoming much of the land where Liberty Hill and Leander space for WCEMS staff. time, indicating a consensus among community election and new members joining the council, are now located.

“This is an exciting day. the council felt it was necessary to reevaluate Fisk-Laughlin’s heartfelt The new medic station the compensation structure to ensure fairness request to honor her anceshas been in the planning and transparency for future councils. tor’s legacy by reinstating phase for quite some After much deliberation, Council member the park’s original name – time, and I am grateful Angela Jones proposed a motion to reduce the Fisk-Cashion Park – resofor the partnership with mayor’s salary from $40,000 to $18,000 and nates deeply with the city’s ESD #4 that will help the council approved the motion. Acting Mayor commitment to preserving its Crystal Mancilla recused herself from the improve response times heritage. This proposed name in this rapidly growing conversation. No further discussions were held not only pays homage to Fisk, area,” said County Comto discuss the salaries of other participants on but also acknowledges the missioner Cynthia Long. the city council. park’s and its surroundings’ “Through partnerships historical significance. with fire departments Middle school program allows Currently on the land and cities, we are able to parents to see school from the there is a cemetery that continue our award-wininside includes gravesites of Greenning EMS services.” leaf Fisk’s family members, ESD #4 funded the Ever wonder what it’s like to patrol the named Fisk-Cashion Historic station while Williamhalls, teach sixth graders to divide fractions or Cemetery. son County contributed become friends with over 700 middle school While the renaming $300,000 for the station. students? Then Liberty Hill Middle School initiative has immense cul“We are thrilled to principal Monica Miller’s “Staff Member for the tural and symbolic value, the introduce this new Day” program is the one for you. renaming has no significant ambulance into service, The program allows parents to have a financial impact. Parklandenhancing our ability to real-life experience of being a middle-school Williamson County leaders joined Williamson County Emergency Medical Services (WCEMS) in April to in-lieu-of fees will cover any serve the growing popustaff member and shadowing Miller as she goes cut the ribbon on a new WCEMS medic station at Liberty Hill Fire Station 2 on Ronald Reagan Bouleexpenses associated with lation of this area within through day-to-day activities and responsibilvard. COURTESY PHOTO future signage. the county. This addition ities.

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

NEWS

Rick Copp of CAS presents Rosanna Guerrero, Liberty Hill Independent School District’s chief financial officer, with the Annie Ozella Jones Scholarship after the district received the Billy E. Hibbs Safety Award, presented for success in implementing safety programs designed to minimize losses and control workers’ compensation costs. COURTESY PHOTO “We have amazing teachers here that love kids,” Miller said. “My intent in my heart is I’m going to bring them in and they can change the narrative outside.”

Miller started the program to allow the community to get a look inside what really goes on in the middle school.

“What I wanted to do was change the narrative for educators,” Miller said. “In the world today, I think educators are not viewed in the positive light they used to be. I’m going to bring people in and I’m going to show the great things that are happening here.”

LHMS parent Itzel Rios was the first to pilot Miller’s program and had the chance to walk through the office and classrooms and observe teachers throughout the morning from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

“For me as a mother, it was something different for us to experience,” Rios said.

“Coming from outside looking in, it was pretty interesting to be able to do that.”

safety award

Rios said the day went above and beyond her expectations.

“I think being involved with the school system is very important,” Rios said.

“You get to know what’s going on and you know if the school needs help.”

Miller said the program is open to parents, grandparents, community members or anyone who wants to become a staff member for the day. Volunteers must fill out the volunteer form on the LHMS website.

“The point of my job is to make sure the kids are learning,” Miller said. “In order to make sure the kids are learning, and the expectations are being met, I have to be in the classrooms, so that’s been really cool for the parents.

Together, we’re going to shift this narrative.”

For more information or to sign up, visit Liberty Hill Middle School on Facebook.

Parent Itzel Rios, principal Monica Miller and assistant principals Sarah Walker, Anthony Escobar and Barbara Parsons are participants in the school’s “Staff Member for the Day” program, which provides parents an opportunity to observe everyday operations from an inside perspective. COURTESY PHOTO

LHISD recognized with

Claims Administrative Services, Inc. (CAS) announced in April that the Liberty Hill Independent School District, one of more than 350 Texas school districts and colleges participating in the CAS workers’ compensation risk pool program, received a safety award reserved for members who achieve superior loss control results.

LHISD was formally recognized by CAS at its annual client appreciation event held during the 2024 TASA Midwinter Conference on Jan. 28 in Austin.

The Billy E. Hibbs Safety Award was presented for success in implementing safety programs designed to minimize losses and control workers’ compensation costs.

In recognition of its achievement, the district received a $500 Annie Ozella Jones Scholarship that it can award to a deserving

Contact us today to advertise in our 2024 512.778.5577 Business Directory anna@LHIndependent.com M AY 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

19

COMMUNITY

Leaving a legacy of literature LHISD employee fulfills dream of publishing children’s book

BY ODALIS A. SUAREZ

by starting a home bakery business. The sisters, who are just 14 months apart, set up social media pages, a website, and created a logo with a whisk in the background and “Ella The ambition to write a children’s book & Mac’s Bakery” written in the forefront. never left Susan Cole’s sights and she waited The venture provided an ideal baking outpatiently for the right time and the right inlet for the sisters as they took on customer spiration to finally cross paths. In November orders and pushed their creative boundaries 2023, that moment arrived with the official by experimenting with different flavor propublication of her first children’s book: Ella files and designs. and Mac’s Bakery.

“They would watch cooking shows and it Cole, who is the executive director of just blew my mind with what they could do teaching and learning for Liberty Hill Indeand how good they could make it all look,” pendent School District, has had her eyes set Cole said. “Ella’s really structured and then on writing a children’s book since she was in Mackinley would have this vision for how college. they would decorate, and so they just really “I just remember we had to do an assigncomplement each ment [where] we had other.” to set goals for our Experiencing her future and I rememdaughters’ baking ber specifically that business firsthand I wanted to write a filled the pages of Ella children’s book,” Cole and Mac’s Bakery with said. “And then you a mostly true recount know, life happened. of two young girls who I became a teacher, have the persistence got married, became to keep asking their a principal and had mom and dad to let two daughters.” them open a bakery.

The opportune The book is geared moment to revisit predominately toward her dream came ages 3 through 12. when one of her “I think the only daughters gave her thing that I really a subtle hint about embellished was at the what her authorship very end, where they could contribute to had this food truck,” the future. said Cole, of the end of “I vividly rememthe book where charber we were in the acters Ella and Mac kitchen – this was have grown up and a year ago January their parents finally al– and she said, ‘You Susan Cole is the author of Ella and Mac’s Bakery and low them to run a food know mom, if you serves as LHISD’s executive director of teaching and truck bakery business. wrote that children’s learning. COURTESY PHOTO “[The true story] is that book that you’ve alit was out of our kitchways wanted to write, en, but the other things were really based on I would read it to my children when I had things that really happen[ed].” children,’” Cole said. “That was the spark. I Before writing her book, Cole spent some needed to leave a legacy for my girls. That’s time listening to podcasts and learning what motivated me to actually sit down and from other children’s book authors on how write it.” to structure a story that caters to a young The cherry on top was the serendipity that audience. her first published work would be based on One of the techniques implemented into her daughters, Mackinley and Ella Cole, and the book was the concept of repetition. In the their passion for baking. That’s how Ella and book, the phrase “You can’t open a bakery, Mac’s Bakery was born. you are too young” is the recurring phrase In 2020, during the height of the pandemthat readers will catch on to. ic’s lockdowns and closures, the Cole sisters “It’s so funny because when I read this decided to make the most of their downtime STAFF WRITER

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

Susan Cole reads her book to children at a book store in Cedar Park in late 2023. COURTESY PHOTO

Susan Cole’s daughters, Mackinley and Ella Cole, were the inspiration for her children’s book, Ella and Mac’s Bakery.

COURTESY PHOTO

COMMUNITY book to kids, about the third ‘you can’t open a bakery, replies mom, you are too…’ and do like that, every kid says ‘young!’”

Cole said. “Every time it’s so fun.”

For Cole, the combination of her youngest daughter’s encouragement and the love of baking shared by both of her children gave her the blueprint needed to put together her first children’s book.

She began the writing and editing process in January 2023 and later the illustration process began in August 2023, utilizing the skills of Canadian illustrator Mike Motz. By November, the book was available for purchase.

Since the release of the book, Cole has visited bookstores and elementary school classes to read to kids as well as sign copies where she writes “DREAM BIG” by her signature – a short and sweet two-word nod to the ultimate message the book aims to send.

“Don’t give up, follow your passion, perseverance, hard work, determination,” Cole said. “Those are all things that I’m hoping would come out of [the book]. I talk a little bit to the kids about that, when I’m reading, that you can do anything.”

Today, Ella Cole is 19 years old and a sophomore studying kinesiology at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Mackinley Cole is 18 and a freshman studying business at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.

Whether or not they will continue to pursue baking in the future is up in the air, but not completely off the table. For now, they’ve always got Ella and Mac’s Bakery.

To learn more or to purchase a copy of Cole’s book, visit susancolewrites.com.

Chamber Corner

Ella and Mac’s Bakery is a children’s book written by Susan Cole about a pair of sisters who want to open their own business. Cole’s book is based off her own two daughters. COURTESY GRAPHICS

libertyhillchamber.org | (512) 548-5533

1st Friday - Breakfast 2nd Tuesday - Women in Business 4th Thursday - Networking Luncheon Check our events calendar for details

The Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome the f lowing businesses this month:

The Daily Blend

Kumon Learning Center

Forrest Coffee Schultze Agency farmer’s Insurance

Yesterday’s Gone

M AY 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

21

2024 Summer Reading Program Fun for Children, Teens, & Adults!

May 6: Sign-up begins! Sign-up on any day until July 17th!

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A

STORY

May 28: Summer Reading Programming Begins!

July 24: Last Day to Turn in Reading Logs & Teen/Adult Tickets!

July 27 - Teen & Adult Winners Notified & the Prize Store Opens!

August 10 - Summer Reading & Back to School Celebration & the Prize Store Closes!

May 28 - Decorate a Summer Reading Tote Bag & Make a Badge Day Starts at 1:00pm - While Supplies Last!

Sponsored by Simply Home Boutique

2024 Summer Reading Program @Liberty Hill Public Library District

May 6-July 24

May 29 - Matt Tardy, Extraordinary Juggler Two Shows - 9:30am & 6:00pm Sponsored by Ortho 360

May 30 - The Magic of Oscar Munoz Two Shows - 9:30am & 6:00pm Sponsored by Taylor Morrison Homes

For all summer performances: Space is limited! No late admissions! First come!

Tickets will be distributed 30 minutes before the show is scheduled to begin; patrons often begin lining up prior to that time. You must have a ticket to enter.

Doors open 10 minutes before the scheduled start time; the library will be closed for 45 minutes before and during each performance.

Parents must sit and stay with their children during the performance.

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

COMMUNITY

Local resident aims to bring Hiring Our Heroes program to town Program connects military community members to new career opportunities

said. “The good thing about the spouses’ network is before the soldiers are transitioning out of the military, it allows the spouses to join the network.”

That way, Gonzalez added, spouses have a chance to get to know some people before

BY ODALIS A. SUAREZ they move, making it easier to transition STAFF WRITER into a new job.

Gonzalez is passionate about veteran Across the United States on any given resources such as Hiring Our Heroes and day, there are numerous servicemen, serbringing awareness to all the options vicewomen and their families preparing available to military families, which is for the transition into civilian life. After why she became the program’s co-lead in time spent serving their country, this new the Military Spouse Professional Network chapter is an opportunity for their country in the Fort Cavazos network area, which to serve them. includes Liberty Hill.

That’s just one reason why this program In this role, Gonzalez serves as the is so important to Liberty Hill resident and point of contact for military families in military veteran Demetrice Gonzalez, who the region should they require one-on-one also serves as the vice president for the guidance for their specific career goals.

Economic Development Corporation. Gon“We, me and the program, [will] be able zalez is on a mission to connect soon-to-be to help you with resume writing, help veterans or existing ones in the Liberty you with your LinkedIn account, help you Hill community to the Hiring Our Heroes with job resources to connect you to other program – a workforce development and resources within the Austin area,” Gonzatraining solution offered by the United lez said. “What I’ve noticed is that we’re States Chamber of Commerce Foundation. all there to help spouses and we’re all there to help veterans, but we’re not connecting the way we need to connect, so this program helps.”

Behind Gonzalez’ immense commitment to the organization’s mission is her own story of transition from military life to civilian life through the Hiring Our Heroes program.

For over 22 years, Gonzalez served in multiple branches starting with the U.S. Marine Corps, then the U.S. Army and finally, the U.S. National Guard.

In 2020, as she transitioned out of the military, she participated in Hiring Our Heroes’ Corporate Fellowship Program which provides internship opportunities for transitioning service members on their last 180 days of service.

This allows active-duty servicepeople to get a head start in exploring roles they are potentially interested in. The total process takes Liberty Hill resident Demetrice Gonzalez (back row, center) stands with members of the Military Spouse Professional Network, which six months which includes she co-leads for the Fort Cavazos network area. COURTESY PHOTO an application phase and “The Hiring Our Heroes program allows soldiers to go out and work for these various businesses and get new skills, because a lot of these soldiers have been military for 10 or 15 years, so they don’t know how it is to work in different diverse companies,” Gonzalez said. “It gives them the opportunity to work there and gain [new] skills.”

Established in 2011, Hiring Our Heroes provides various career, internship, networking, training, education and certification services for veterans and their families at no cost. Their offerings are available both in-person and virtually.

For those serving, the program is a resource hub in seeking one’s next profession and making connections with prospective employers.

For family members, such as spouses, their networking groups in various cities allow engagement and guidance from other military relatives depending on where they live or will plan to move to.

“The spouses are the backbone because they’re moving along with us and they’re having to leave their careers,” Gonzalez

Liberty Hill resident Demetrice Gonzalez is passionate about bringing job opportunities through the Hiring Our Heroes program to the area. COURTESY PHOTO

interview phase followed by a 12-week hands-on internship experience.

Gonzalez earned an internship with Liberty Hill Middle School working in the Solid ROOTS program. Today, she still works as a substitute teacher within the district.

Since her launch as co-lead, Gonzalez has focused on connecting Hiring Our Heroes with the Liberty Hill community.

She’s already shared the program with the Economic Development Corporation.

Her next move is to share the program with the Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce. In June, she will be the guest speaker at the chamber’s monthly luncheon.

Ultimately, she hopes to get the chamber on board as a partner in spreading awareness of Hiring Our Heroes. With the greater exposure, she would eventually like to also get the City of Liberty Hill and local businesses on board.

In the meantime, she is putting the finishing touches on her own website that will be home to a one-stop-shop for resources that will cater to senior citizens, children, spouses, and, of course, military personnel transitioning from active duty to veteran status.

For more information on the Hiring Our Heroes program, visit hiringourheroes.org.

To get involved with Hiring Our Heroes locally, email Gonzalez at dgonzalez@ libertyhilltx.gov.

M AY 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

23

SPORTS

Eight Panthers sign national letters of intent Soccer, volleyball, cross country and track were represented

BY ELLIE HERT

EDITORIAL INTERN At Liberty Hill High School on April 17, eight student-athletes committed to further their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level.

During the event, each athlete had the chance to celebrate with their families, friends and teammates and their coaches each spoke on how big of an accomplishment signing day truly is.

“I like to compare signing day morning to winning the state championship,” Liberty Hill athletic director Kent Walker said. “I really feel like that’s the feeling we get as coaches when we get to see our athletes sign and do something they love.”

Seniors Dylan Maurer and Travon Williams signed to run track and field at Central College in Pella, Iowa and Wichita State University, respectively.

Senior Brina Collins signed for track and

field at North Park University in Chicago and senior Sophia Ortiz signed for high jump at Trinity University in San Antonio.

“I’m excited because it’s a completely different environment,” Ortiz said. “I still get to do what I love, but it’s at a higher level. It’s similar, but also adding more to my experience.”

Senior Dhar Ramsingh will play soccer at Texas Lutheran University and senior McKenna Mayfield will continue her volleyball career at Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas.

A pair of siblings, seniors Caden and Carson Glenn, had the honor of signing their letters of intent together. Caden signed to run cross country and track at Angelo State University and Carson will continue her soccer career at the University of Texas-Tyler.

Walker said committing to play collegiate sports is not just on the athlete, but comes from support of family members, parents, friends and coaches.

“Coaches, thank you for all of the hard work

Eight Liberty Hill athletes committed to competing at the college level at a National Signing Day event on Wednesday including Dylan Maurer (Central College, track & field), Brina Collins (North Park University, track & field) McKenna Mayfield (Lyon College, volleyball) Sophia Ortiz (Trinity University, track & field) Carson Glenn (University of Texas-Tyler, soccer), Caden Glenn (Angelo State University, cross country, track & field) and Dhar Rhamsingh (Texas Lutheran University, soccer). Not pictured is Travon Williams (Wichita State University, track & field). COURTESY PHOTO you put in to allow these athletes to go compete at the next level,” Walker said. “Congratulations to all athletes that are signing today. I know that it’s extremely hard work to get to do

what they’re getting to do at the next level. To further their academic and athletic careers – it takes a lot.”

GAME OF THE MONTH

Andrews delivers with arm, bat in Panthers’ extra-innings victory

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

after the teams had played eight-and-a-half scoreless innings.

But, Andrews’ heroics began long before lifting the walk-off fly ball, as the sophomore left-hander was also the winning pitcher after hurling 7 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Panthers starter Cole Tanksley, who allowed only one one on two hits through the opening 5 1/3.

Andrews – who threw 106 pitches – said the excitement of the situation propelled him in his final frame of work in the top of the 13th.

“At that point, my adrenaline just took over,” he said. “Definitely one of the craziest games I’ve ever played and the longest ever – I’m just proud of my boys for getting it done.”

Tanksley pitched into the sixth, but after getting Cooper Jen to fly out to Andrews in left to open the inning, the Liberty Hill outfielder jogged in to replace his teammate on the mound after Tanksley had thrown 64 pitches.

Panthers head coach Brandon Jordan Andrews (10) pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings in relief and hit a Creek praised Tanksley for holding game-winning sacrifice fly in the 13th inning of Liberty Hill’s 2-1 home up his end of the deal on the night. district win over Hays on April 19. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

OWNER/PUBLISHER In a game that saw as many crazy twists and turns as one will ever see, Liberty Hill defeated Hays by a 2-1 score in 13 innings on April 19.

Jordan Andrews delivered in the clutch with a sacrifice fly into foul territory down the left-field line in the bottom of the 13th with runners on second and third and one out to plate Pearson Lowery with the winning run

24 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

“Tanksley was huge tonight,” he said. “He’s an awesome kid, loves to compete and went out there and did exactly what we needed him to do. ” In the top of the eighth was when the drama really got started with the first of several unusual plays that would unfold in extending the contest to its eventual length.

After a pair of Panthers errors put runners on first and second with two outs, Liberty Hill first baseman Blaze Milam made a diving stop on a grounder headed for the hole by Adriano Fernandez that ended up an infield single when the Hays runner beat the coverage at first. But, Milam then alertly fired home to catcher Carson Sharp, who tagged out Joaquin Berumen, who was trying to score on the play, for the final out.

After Lowery had been thrown out at home to end the eighth, with Toby Rimann suffering the same fate in the 12th, the third time was the charm for the home side in what ended up being a lucky 13th for the home side.

Lowery drew a leadoff walk, then was safe at second when Cullen Lee fielded a Sharp sacrifice bunt and tried to wheel around to get Lowery at second to no avail, while Sharp reached first safely.

Up next with still no outs was Andrew Basey, who successfully bunted the runners to second and third, bringing Andrews to the plate with an opportunity to put a cherry on top of the sundae he had already made with his work on the mound.

After falling behind in the count 0-2, Andrews worked it full against Lee, then sent a 3-2 pitch high into foul territory down the left-field line where Hawks outfielder Berumen made the catch and threw home to catcher Ryder Pearson, who was forced high to glove it while Lowery barely slid under the tag with the winning run.

“Jordan was huge – absolutely huge,” he said.

“For him to come in, throw like that and go 7 2/3, it was really big. He absolutely battled and competed and wasn’t swinging like he usually does at the plate, but that kid is an absolute gamer – Jordan found a way to win us a game and I couldn’t be prouder of him.”

Creek said the events that unfolded on this night will be difficult to top.

“I was involved in an 18-inning game one time, but that was just 18 innings,” he said.

“But, this game had all kinds of drama in it, so it’s definitely up there as far as the craziest ever.”

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M AY 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

25

SPORTS

Mashin’ that tater

Lady Panthers slugger provides powerful plate presence

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Through the penultimate game of the district schedule this season, Addison Shifflett had already sent a dozen softballs over outfield fences in the form of home runs.

But, that doesn’t mean the Liberty Hill lefty strides up to the plate looking for long balls.

In fact, quite the opposite is true.

“Usually, I’ll just hunt a pitch and try to make solid contact,” said Shifflett. “A lot of times, I’ll look for outside pitches and if the pitcher misses her spot, it’s right over the plate.”

When that happens, many times the ball is sent from right down Broadway to another area code.

But, not always, she said.

“With two strikes, I don’t take a stride when I swing,” said Shifflett. “In that situation, I just try to hit the ball back up the middle – especially with runners on base.”

According to Lady Panthers head coach Kristen Brewer, it’s this kind of cerebral approach at the dish that separates Shifflett from many other hitters.

“Addison is able to adapt and make adjustments on the spot based on what she sees from a particular pitcher, as opposed to not until her next at-bat,” said Brewer. “What that allows her to do is expand the strike zone, which gives her more pitches to hit.”

However, regardless of success or failure in a given at-bat, Brewer said Shifflett manages to stay focused without jumping to conclusions that might lead to unnecessary experimentation at the plate to change her fortune.

“She’s good about having a calm demeanor,” she said. “No need to try to change something she believes in – just trust the process.”

Last season as a sophomore, Shifflett debuted on the varsity by bursting onto the scene with 11 home runs and 51 runs batted in to go with a .398 batting average and this season had already surpassed those power numbers before the regular season even ended, having racked up 12 homers and 52 RBI through the first 29 games of the season with the same .398 average, which once again illustrates her ability to be more than just a bomber at the plate despite posting prodigious power numbers.

Shifflett initially picked up a bat and glove at age three at the behest of father Trent and hasn’t looked back since – although she did give others games a go, she said.

“I played volleyball and basketball through my freshman year and also track in middle school,” said Shifflett. “But, even early on, I knew I wanted to play softball in college.”

On defense, Shifflett patrols left field for the Purple-and-Gold and finds solace flashing leather beyond the infield, although she began at first base before switching positions earlier

Liberty Hill’s Addison Shifflett (14) uses a blend of power and intelligence at the plate as the Lady Panthers’ top home-run threat and run producer. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO on in her career.

In fact, Brewer said it was Shifflett’s prowess with the glove – in addition to her offense – that proved to be a catalyst in her promotion to the varsity squad last season.

“Of course, her bat and knowledge of the game were the main reasons,” she said. “But, we also needed an outfielder and she has worked really well with (senior center fielder) Rylee (Slimp). Addison’s good at tracking the ball off the bat and isn’t afraid to sacrifice her body to make a play along with the little things like always throwing in front of runners to not

Liberty Hill, meaning all her athletic accomplishments have been local, including what she said is her favorite softball memory of all time – which just happened to be with a current teammate.

“We won the (Softball) World Series in Louisiana when I was in 8U ball,” she said. “Shelby (Broderick) was on that team.”

Brewer added Shifflett is an excellent teammate to this day – even though she’s not a very vociferous individual.

“She’s a leader even though she’s not the most vocal person,” she said. “Being at the

“Usually, I’ll just hunt a pitch and try to make solid contact.”

Liberty Hill Junior Addison Shifflett

Lady Panthers outfielder Addison Shifflett (14) tracks the ball off the bat well and employs a strong throwing arm in left field. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

26 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

give up an extra base.”

However, it’s not only in the expanses of the outfield where Shifflett and Slimp form an effective tandem, but also in the Lady Panthers’ locker room before games where the duo is in charge of beautifying their teammates before they take the field.

“I’ll do the eye black, then Rylee does the glitter – she has a little box with all different colors,” said Shifflett. “After that, (freshman) Bella (Nicholson) has ribbons for everyone’s hair. We’re not superstitious or anything, but we always make sure we have time for it.”

Shifflett is a true Panther – born and bred in

top of our lineup and talking out on the field, getting everybody positive. You don’t need to wait until you’re a senior to be a leader and Addison has certainly done that for us.”

With her proliferation of power at the plate, perhaps hitting balls over fences has become a bit routine for Shifflett, who said if she had her choice, would rather prevent an opponent from doing the same and in spectacular fashion.

“Oh, yeah,” she said. “If I had to choose, I would much rather rob a home run that hit one myself.”

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

SPORTS

Raising the bar

High jumpers combine passion, technique in soaring to new heights

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

she said.

“What that does is allow me to understand how my stride is off,” said Ortiz. “So, I can adjust and work on things like keeping When a high jumper approaches the bar my head back or getting my knee up.” and launches, the flight is a culmination of Fellow Panthers senior Travon Williams, a contrived sequence of events leading up to though, takes a different approach. that critical moment.

“For me, it’s completely opposite,” he said.

Most jumpers employ a five-step ap“Usually, it’s the last two or three steps when proach to gain enough momentum to have I can feel if something’s off because I like to the ability to successfully spring themselves build speed.” over to a happy landing on the mat.

According to Liberty Hill assistant track For Sophia Ortiz, though, it’s all about the coach Chris Lange, regardless of how each start. individual jumper handles their respective “I call it the magical first step,” said the business in the buildup, it’s critical for it to Liberty Hill senior. “You can tell off the first all come together at the right time. step if it’s going to be a good jump or not.”

“There is definitely a rhythm to jumpLuckily, high jumpers are granted 60 ing,” said Lange. “Most high jumpers have a seconds for each attempt, meaning there is certain way they like to take off, so from the plenty of time to abort an uncomfortable first step to the fifth you’re looking to be in a approach in favor of another, so no worries, certain position.”

Lange added the ability to develop that rhythm is a gradual process from the outset of the season all the way through the big meets at the end and one that must be properly nurtured along the way for the final product to be victorious.

“We started four months ago at the beginning of March,” said Lange. “Always looking to build rhythm and most importantly of all, consistency.”

Despite polar-opposite mentalities in their respective approaches, Ortiz and Williams agree being consistent is the most crucial component of continual improvement.

“One of the biggest things is staying determined,” said Ortiz.

“It’s a very mental process – I know Liberty Hill senior high jumper Sophia Ortiz gave up softball and cheerleading to 80-90 percent of the focus strictly on track upon reaching high school. time, I’m not going to PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH be perfect. So, I focus OWNER/PUBLISHER

Panthers senior Travon Williams qualified for the regional meet in the high, triple and long jump events.

PHOTO BY BRYCE MUCHAW

on that 10 percent when I am, so I can carry that into competition.”

Williams concurred.

“Keeping consistent and having that same rhythm every single time is most important,” he said. “Every day, you just need to go out and practice.”

Like most track and field events, improvement is usually incremental, so it definitely pays to be patient, said Lange.

“You need to take your time and be able to make small adjustments,” he said. “Focusing on each individual part of the approach and take-off, rather than just trying to power through it.”

Along those lines, Ortiz employs various drills and exercises that increase strength and flexibility in order to maximize performance, she said.

“I do a lot of plyometrics to be able to lift heavier, so I can better spring my body off the ground,” said Ortiz. “When you jump, it’s a lot of moving parts.”

Earlier in her athletic career, Ortiz was a cheerleader and played softball before giving up both sports to focus strictly on track upon reaching high school – although her debut wasn’t exactly what she had planned on.

“My very first high school meet freshman year, I broke my ankle on my very first triple jump,” she said. “I was in a boot for six weeks, so I lost the entire season.

But, that taught me to be patient because I was frustrated – I wanted to get out there and be amazing – especially after I lost my eighth-grade season to the pandemic. But, I understood everything happens for a reason and it taught me resilience.”

Both Panthers jumpers will have the opportunity to continue their careers at the college level, as Ortiz will attend Trinity University in San Antonio, while Williams will compete at Wichita State University, but first will attempt to qualify for the Class 5A state championships at the University of Texas at the end of their senior seasons.

“I wanted to go somewhere new,” said Williams, who plans to study business.

“Where I could have a chance to represent myself.”

Ortiz will major in medicine, she said.

“Eventually, I want to be an anesthesiologist,” said Ortiz. “I’ve always been interested in the medical field and that will give me a lot of options.”

But, before Ortiz and Williams take those next steps in their respective lives, those critical five steps right in front of them still need to be focused on to compete for a state title.

“One of the things I’ve learned about high jumping is it’s very mental,” said Ortiz. “But, sometimes you just have to let it go, see what happens and know everything is going to work out.”

M AY 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

Net neophytes catching on fast Pair of Panthers brand new to tennis find success

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

Rhoden said Avery already had the mental makeup to make the switch a success before she ever hit a single serve or return.

“It wasn’t a challenge coaching Adly even Adly Avery has spent much of her youth though she was completely new to the game swinging a bat at softballs, but after her because she just has guts, is super-coachsophomore season on the diamond, she able and has the desire to get better,” she realized she needed a change of athletic said. “She’s really made a commitment arenas. to herself and her family and is going full “I was just looking for a more comfortable force.” environment,” said Avery, now a junior.

However, Avery isn’t the only newcomer “Although the game has been a lot harder to the courts, as sophomore Brendan Stafthan I thought.” ford only began playing last year as a freshAvery decided to take up tennis at the man and already had something in common behest of older brother Holt, who played with his teammate, as he also switched from for the Purple-and-Gold before graduating bats and gloves to rackets. with Liberty Hill’s Class of 2023 and ever “I played baseball, but didn’t really want since she began pounding fuzzy, yellow balls to do that anymore,” said Stafford. “I had instead of the dayglow cowhide variety, she played tennis back when I was about five, hasn’t looked back and is now fully enjoying but then didn’t play again until middle her new existence on the Panthers’ purple school.” courts.

Perhaps Stafford’s relative familiarity According to Avery, one of the most enjoywith the game – albeit many years before able aspects of her transition has been the – has helped him soar up the ranks of Rhoguidance of Liberty Hill head coach Sherry den’s squad at a rather rapid pace, moving Rhoden. up to the varsity this year after only a single “I just love how Coach Sherry coaches,” season on the junior varsity and quickly said Avery. “She really cares about you as a rising to being the Panthers’ No. 2 boys’ person and not just as a player.” singles player.

Rhoden said Stafford employs an unorthodox playing style in frustrating opponents that are accustomed to facing a certain kind of opposition.

“People hate to play against Brendan because he just hits the ball and doesn’t try to make country club shots,” she said. “He just sticks with what works for him.”

Part of what works so well for Stafford is a nonchalant approach to the game that allows him to stay calm in any situation.

“I’ve never been one to get mad when I make a bad shot,” said Stafford. “It’s about not caring about that and getting to the next point.”

It was this mentality that proved useful in a match earlier this season when Stafford found himself down on the scoreboard early, only to roar back with a vengeance to victory.

“I lost the first set, 0-6,” he said.

“But, I ended up coming back and winning in a third-set tiebreaker.”

Liberty Hill’s Adly Avery is a former softball player who has made a Despite his penchant for smooth transition to tennis. COURTESY PHOTO mentally-mellow tennis, though, OWNER/PUBLISHER

SPORTS Rhoden has already begun to realize the natural learning curve Stafford is on.

“With Brendan now, I’m really starting to see the progression of his game,” she said. “He’s learning to hit the ball to a certain place on the court and I expect him to be ready for the fall season as I believe his game is really going to blossom.”

As far as Avery is concerned, her path to success is also leading upward – in part to her previous athletic endeavors, said Rhoden.

“Adly hits the ball really well,” she said. “I think that’s because she can track it well after years of hitting in softball.”

In addition, Avery has an unquenchable thirst for improvement, she said.

“She can do a drill correctly eight out of 10 times, but isn’t happy until she gets all 10 right,” said Rhoden, of Avery, who beat out 35 other girls during tryouts for her place on the varsity squad. “Adly’s never happy with failure because she knows she can do it.”

For now, Avery is playing Panthers sophomore Brendan Stafford has already risen to be Liberty doubles with partner Emma Hill’s No. 2 boys’ singles players despite the fact he only debuted on the Turner and said having an varsity squad this season. COURTESY PHOTO experienced teammate alongside during matches goes a Avery has a condition known as Duane long way toward quicker acclimation of the syndrome in her left eye, an affliction that pressures one faces during the course of a limits horizontal eye movement and a match. condition that forced her to hit from the “I’m still at the point of learning how to left side of the plate during her softball days play tennis,” said Avery. “So, it definitely despite the fact she’s naturally right-handed helps to have someone out there with me.” because she was unable to track pitches Back during the summer, it was another from that side of the batter’s box. Although current teammate that helped teach Avery it was successful transition from righty to the ways of the court in junior Mehkayla lefty back then, she can play tennis from her Mulski, as the pair spent countless hours natural side. in scorching heat going over the nuances of But, Avery has used even that to propel the game – down to the slightest detail, said herself forward, she said.

Avery.

“Hitting left-handed in softball has helped “Mehkayla even taught me how to keep me with my backhand in tennis,” said Avery. score,” she said. “She was the one who con“The easiest part for me has been hitting vinced me to play tennis in the first place.” volleys because I already had good hand-eye Rhoden added Avery’s advance work on coordination.” and off the court allowed her to also experiHaving eager players that are new to the ence a smooth social transition to tennis. game and are hungry for knowledge and “She already knew some of the girls on wisdom makes it that much easier to shape the team,” she said. “So, from that standtheir respective games, said Rhoden. point, Adly was already in a happy environ“I love both Adly and Brendan,” she said. ment she wanted to grow in.”

“They’re fresh, want to learn and are only One more thing that makes Avery’s athletgoing to get better.” icism all the more remarkable, though.

M AY 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

31

PANTHER OF THE MONTH

View from right field Panthers senior enjoys roaming the outfield

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

As a four-year varsity baseball player, Colby Demars has a lot of memories from his days on the diamond.

However, one particular moment will always stand out in the rear-view mirror for the Liberty Hill senior outfielder when he looks back over his Purple-and-Gold playing career.

“Sophomore year,” said Demars. “Playoff game at Johnson – had two hits and made a diving catch – the atmosphere was amazing.”

Unfortunately, despite a 14-13 Panthers victory, the occasion was marred by repeated verbal clashes between both sets of supporters that ended with the wrongful ejection of several Liberty Hill parents, who were then forced to track the rest of the game in the parking lot on a mobile app – including Demars’ parents, James and Amy. “After the game, we came out and were like ‘Where is everybody?’ said Demars. “It was crazy.”

Demars has played outfield exclusively for the Panthers – a place he’s been stationed on baseball fields for as long as he can remem-

ber – preferring the open spaces beyond the infield to best utilize his skill set, he said.

“Out there, I can use my speed,” said Demars. “Also, I have a strong arm.”

At Liberty Hill’s home field, the sinking sun in the Western sky can prove perilous for right fielders early in games before setting and many a high fly ball has been lost in the brightness, but Demars has narrowed how to navigate the unforgiving glare down to a science.

“What I’ll do is move a little more over toward second base,” he said. “Which changes the position of where the sun is.”

How’s that worked out?

“So far, so good,” said Demars. “Haven’t lost one yet.”

Panthers head coach Brandon Creek said it’s exactly that kind of caginess that makes Demars valuable.

“Colby’s a four-year varsity player, which is rare,” he said. “He’s an absolute leader, really sets the tone for the other players and has a cannon for an arm.”

Aside from the ability to launch cowhides from distance with pinpoint accuracy, though,

Panthers senior Colby Demars (9) is a lifelong Liberty Hill resident who enjoys hunting, fishing and golf.

PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO it might be Demars’ overall approach to the game that is his most valuable contribution to the cause, said Creek.

“We depend on him a lot,” he said. “When one of your best players is also one of your hardest workers, that really shows the younger guys how to do it, which is huge for our program. Here’s a four-year varsity guy who still shows up every day, works as hard as anyone and always has a smile on his face. As a coach, Colby’s one of those guys that’s a joy to be around.”

Next year, Demars will take his game to

Demars plans on studying business, but his ultimate undertaking as a member of the work force will involve something he’s never done on a baseball field – wear a mask.

“I really want to go into welding,” said Demars. “I started it three years ago by taking a class and I’m just really good at it. Maybe I can have my own business someday.”

As a lifelong Liberty Hill resident, Demars has always enjoyed the outdoors in the form of hunting and fishing, but has taken up a more sophisticated outdoor pursuit in recent years, he said.

“No regrets -- I just want to keep playing baseball as long as I can.”

Liberty Hill Senior Colby Demars

Liberty Hill’s Colby Demars (9) has always preferred playing outfield and will play next season at Galveston College.

PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

32 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

Galveston College, where he will continue his playing career for the Whitecaps with the hopes of doing well enough to move on to a university and said he chose the island campus as his destination for matriculation after a visit convinced him it was the place.

“Everything felt at home for me there,” said Demars. “The coaches are cool, one of my best friends from select ball is there and the lodging is good – they have condos.”

As far as the dietary adjustment of being away from home for the first time, Demars said he has that covered like a line drive to the gap.

“They have a cafeteria – I get three meals a day,” he said. “Also, I can make good eggs.”

“I like to play golf,” said Demars. “For me, the best part is hanging out with my friends and getting away.”

How does his swing on the fairways compare to at the plate?

“Not very good,” he said. “I’m still trying to break 100.”

Entering high school as a freshman, Demars gave up football and basketball to focus on baseball and one could say that decision has paid definite dividends, as he now will have the opportunity to complete at the collegiate level.

“No regrets,” said Demars. “I just want to keep playing baseball as long as I can.”

Family affair on the fairways

SPORTS

Liberty Hill senior golfer learned game from father, brother

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Golf is a family affair for Emma Walz.

After all, her older brother and Liberty Hill alum Donny went on to compete in college at Texas A&M University-San Antonio and now the Panthers senior swinger will join her sibling after committing to play at Fort Hays State University in Kansas, where she will feature for the NCAA Division I program next year.

According to Walz, teeing it up at the college level was always in her thoughts despite the fact she played others sports while growing up.

“I started playing golf seriously when I was 11 or 12,” said Walz. “It was always my goal to play in college. I played basketball and soccer, but never really seriously.”

Walz said her brother was instrumental in her growth as a golfer.

“I always looked up to him,” she said. “My dad and brother were always talking to me about college scholarship opportunities.”

Playing for the Panthers has provided Walz with an opportunity to experience competition that goes beyond the individual nature of the game and has been one of the most gratifying parts of her time in Purple-and-Gold, she said.

“The team aspect is different because you’re out there with each other and not just playing for yourself, so even if I’m not having my best round, it’s easy to get mad and mentally check out, but I still want to do as good as I can for my team because that shot or two could make a difference and I want to be helpful,” said Walz. “I’m really blessed to have the teammates I have.”

In recent years, one of the best ways Walz does that is by having a strong short game, she said.

“Usually, I can get up and down,” said Walz. “So, even when my irons aren’t dialed in on approach shots, I can still make mid to long-range putts.”

Of course, much of the game is played in one’s mind, which is another aspect Walz has come to appreciate in having the ability to successfully navigate layouts in various conditions and the situations they present from one hole to another.

“I think the mental game is most

important because you can be having a really good round and all of a sudden, some little thing happens,” she said.

“All that does is put more pressure on yourself, so you just have to play through it.”

In fact, Walz said father Heath taught her one of the most important lessons along those lines early on and it’s wisdom she’s used in showing resolve over the years.

“My dad taught me to not be a quitter,” she said. “He’s been my biggest motivator and always believed in me even when I didn’t.”

It was that father-daughter bond that was forged on weekend afternoons at the range when Walz would hit ball after ball under the watchful eye of Dad. “He would take me to First Tee Greater Austin,” said Walz, of the capital city-based youth development organization designed to build life skills through junior golf programs. “I’d be out there for six hours every Saturday.”

Walz said the support she’s gotten from her family over the years has indeed gone a long way into making her into the player and person she is today.

“It’s really important because it’s easy to burn out,” she said. “All you hear is your own negative voice when you’re having a bad round or a bad day.”

Earlier this season, Walz shot a career-low score of 80 in winning an event at Shadow Glen Golf Club in Manor during Stony Point’s home tournament and said everything just fell into place.

“I was getting up and down even if I wasn’t on the green,” she said. “My chipping and putting were good, I was striking the ball well and had all kinds of energy on the course. On days like that, golf can make you feel like you’re on top of the world.”

Certainly the competition level will increase in college, but Walz has already considered what she will need to do to continue her success at the next level where three-round tournaments are the usual fare as opposed to the single-day events of high school golf.

“I just need to prep myself on all cylinders, do golf-specific workouts and play 18 holes more often,” she said. “Also, I’ve looked at what Division I practices are like, so I know I’ll be ready.”

Panthers senior golfer Emma Walz (middle) shot a career-best score of 80 in winning the Stony Point tournament at Shadow Glen Golf Club in Manor this season. COURTESY PHOTO

Liberty Hill senior Emma Walz (second from left) and Panthers teammates Rylie Clayton, Ashlyn Zimmerman, Katherine Philpott and Paityn Nash took time recently for an impromptu team photo after a tournament.

COURTESY PHOTO

M AY 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

33

COLUMN

Liberty Hill man spearheaded drive to W O R S H I P GUIDE purchase ‘Jaws of Life’ for LHVFD

BY JAMES WEAR

OPEN DOOR BAPTIST CHURCH 13997 State Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill (512) 337-6814 opendoorbaptistchurchwc@gmail.com PASTOR Kevin Alexander SERVICES Sunday Bible Study 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship 10:30am Children’s Church 10:30am Sunday Afternoon Worship 1:30pm Wednesday Service 7pm

COLUMNIST

More than three decades have passed since an automobile accident at the intersection of FM 1869 and Carl Shipp Drive triggered a drive to purchase a “Jaws of Life” unit for the Liberty Hill Volunteer Fire Department.

Former Liberty Hill resident Mark Bradley lived nearby and, along with others, looked on as local volunteers awaited a unit from Georgetown to bring a Jaws unit to the scene. A local woman and two of her sons were injured in the collision, and after being extricated, were then transported to an area hospital. They were treated and released.

Bradley, realizing the fire department did not have the funds to purchase a Jaws unit, approached fire chief James Pogue and others in leadership positions with the department and received their blessing to embark upon a fund-raising campaign.

The Independent publicized the effort and by the time the department’s annual barbecue rolled around a few weeks later, more than $5,000 had been raised. Still, it wasn’t enough. Fortunately, an “angel” stepped forward.

Pogue recalls a local man approached him one afternoon and remarked, “I understand the department needs some money to buy a piece of equipment.”

Pogue replied: “Yes.” The man handed him a check for several hundred dollars, which was enough and then some to purchase the unit.

“If you ever tell anyone I donated this money you’ll never see another penny from

LIFE SPRINGS CHRISTIAN CHURCH 15611 W State Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill (512) 633-6074 www.lifespringschristianchurch.org PASTOR Dr. William Brannan SERVICES Sunday Worship 10am Sunday Online youtube.com/lifesprings More than 30 years have passed since a former resident of Liberty Hill, Mark Bradley (left), led an effort to purchase a “Jaws of Life” unit for the Liberty Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Pictured with Bradley at the department’s annual barbecue were Carolyn Montiel (second from left), a former Liberty Hill teacher who was trapped in her car after a collision and had to wait for a Georgetown crew before she could be freed, Chief James Pogue and EMS coordinator Brenda Cascio. COURTESY PHOTO

me,” the man said, as he made it very clear that he didn’t seek publicity or thanks from the public for his generous donation.

Pogue did share the man’s name with a few of us board members, but we all agreed to honor the man’s request. Years later, in a private conversation with his daughter, I told her how much her father’s donation meant to us. She smiled.

“Daddy was like that,” she said.

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

Much has changed since those early years of the fire department. It no longer relies on donations. Instead, with the creation of an emergency services district more than 20 years ago, taxpayers foot most of the department’s funding.

The department is also fully staffed by paid personnel and the annual barbecue with the accompanying auction is a distant memory.

MISSION LIBERTY HILL LUTHERAN CHURCH (LCMS Affiliated) 15725 W State Hwy. 29, #7, Liberty Hill (512) 778-9310 www.missionlibertyhill.com PASTOR Rev. Mike Cofer SERVICES Sunday Adult Bible Study and Sunday School 9am Sunday Worship 10am Sunday Online missionlibertyhill.com/onlineworship

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M AY 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

35

EVENTS CALENDAR

May 4 DOWN & DIRTY DERBY Happy Hour Bar 719 N. Hwy. 183, Liberty Hill 3-7 p.m. https://fb.me/e/24rvQDwKL May 5 THE MARKET LHTX Louine Noble Elementary 101 Main St. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. facebook.com/marketlhtx LIBERTY HILL CEMETERY HOMECOMING Liberty Hill Cemetery Association 16101 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 11 a.m.-2 p.m. libertyhillcemetery.com SPRING FLING & CLASSIC CAR SHOW Globe Theatre 132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 2 p.m. car show, 8 p.m. concert, $20-200 globetheatretx.com May 7 LIBERTY HILL BNI CHAPTER LAUNCH Margaritas 10280 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. https://fb.me/e/2b6kmgjM9

COACHES VS. PLAYERS SPIRIT NIGHT Liberty Hill Youth Soccer Association 255 CR 200, Liberty Hill 6 p.m. libertyhillsoccer.org May 9 OPEN MIC NIGHT Agape BBQ/Liberty Hill School of Music 3610 RR 1869 6-8 p.m. lhmusicschool.com

SATURDAY UNDER THE OAKS WITH LAST OF THE PETTY CASH Agape BBQ 3610 RR 1869 6:30 p.m. agapebbq.com

May 24 FAMILY SHILOH Dahlia Café 2450 RR 1869 6:30 p.m. dahliacafe.com

May 12 MOTHER’S DAY PAINT NITE Whitestone Brewery 15390 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 5 p.m., $45 whitestonebrewery.com

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE WITH KENN RENNER Agape BBQ 3610 RR 1869 6:30 p.m. agapebbq.com

May 15 WEDNESDAY TRIVIA Liberty Hill Beer Market 13851 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 7-9 p.m. facebook.com/people/liberty-hill-beer-market

May 25 THE MARKET LHTX Louine Noble Elementary 101 Main St. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. facebook.com/marketlhtx

May 16 LIBERTY HILL FAIR AND RODEO Harvest Ranch Arena 8355 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 5 p.m., $10-50 libertyhillfairandrodeo.com

COUPLES DANCE LESSONS Connection Adventures ATX 3059 CR 212, Bertram (Kfire Winery and Vineyard) 6:30-8:30 p.m., $69 connectionadventuresatx.com

May 17 LIBERTY HILL FAIR AND RODEO Harvest Ranch Arena 8355 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 5 p.m., $10-50 libertyhillfairandrodeo.com

May 10 LIBERTY LAFFS Whitestone Brewery 15390 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 8 p.m. whitestonebrewery.com

May 18 WHIMSY & WONDER City of Liberty Hill Downtown Liberty Hill 6-10 p.m. experiencelhtx.com

May 11 NAME THAT TUNE BINGO Whitestone Brewery 15390 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 6-9 p.m. whitestonebrewery.com

LIBERTY HILL FAIR AND RODEO Harvest Ranch Arena 8355 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 5 p.m., $10-50 libertyhillfairandrodeo.com May 19 MAY 2024 SHOOT Hill Country Bowhunters 540 CR 258, Liberty Hill 8 a.m.

Hillcountrybowhunters.com

May 30 WATER TOWER KICKSTART City of Liberty Hill 822 Main St. (Water Tower Parking Lot) 6:30-8:30 p.m. experiencelhtx.com May 31 JOEL TUCKER BAND Time Out Sports Bar 10280 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 7-10 p.m. facebook.com/timeoutsportsbarlh June 1 BOB WILLS’ TEXAS PLAYBOYS Globe Theatre 132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 8 p.m., $35-300 globetheatretx.com

12TH ANNUAL HEROES APPRECIATION BBQ Reunion Ranch 850 CR 255, Georgetown 10 a.m.-3 p.m. https://bnte.us/sc/ZbyQhDV7 LIZZIE STREET Liberty Hill Beer Market 13851 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 7-9 p.m. facebook.com/people/ liberty-hill-beer-market AN EVENING WITH OWEN TEMPLE & WALT WILKINS Globe Theatre 132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 8 p.m., $20-200 globetheatretx.com

Whimsy & Wonder

May 21 NAME THAT TUNE BINGO Liberty Tavern 3000 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 7-9 p.m.

Libertytavern.co

Liberty Hill Fair and Rodeo 36

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | M AY 2 0 2 4

May 23 COUPLES JEOPARDY NIGHT Connection Adventures ATX 204 E. Main St., Florence (Dwell House Coffee and Tap) 6:30-8:30 p.m., $59 connectionadventuresatx.com

Last of the Petty Cash

M AY 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

37

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