WEST KERR
Celestial spectacle draws visitors from afar
By Irene Van Winkle
The celestial spectacle of the centu-
ry billed by NASA as the Great North American Eclipse and the Kerrvile Eclipse Festival generated a galactic amount of publicity nationwide Kerrville and Kerr County got its share of media attention, and while it responded beautifully, the viewing skies overhead caused it a little heart-
burn The path of totality followed in a diagonal trail from parts of Mexico, 15 U S states and eastern Canada Kerrville was swept up in the excitement, and NASA chose the city to hold the first broadcast station up the line
Special eclipse glasses, very inexpensive, were being sold everywhere, or given away
Of the numerous guests who flew in, two enthusiastic young men from
Keep West Kerr Beautiful plant giveaway April 20
By Kari Short West
Johnna Curle, Chair of Keep West Kerr Beautiful Committee, updated the April First Thursday Group at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church on Thursday
Curle announced the group’s annual plant giveaway on Saturday, April 2,0,
to be held at the Ingram Y in front of T J Moore’s parking lot from 12:30 to 4 p m She reminded people to arrive early because often the plants are given away within the first hour and a half Curle also announced that the group has already secured Hill Country Telephone
Hawaii, Jimmy and Nate, rolled into Kerrville to witness their highly anticipated eclipse and keep their enthusiasm up
Best friends Jimmy and Nate just happened to park at the Kerrville garage where this reporter did and a few introductions turned into an intriguing exchange about much more than an eclipse Nate works at Best Buy as their IT guy, who said it never really rains in
Hawaii, and they get just a passing shower every day Jimmy said he was born and raised on Oahu Honolulu is the capital but he was born on the country side of it Jimmy was born on one of the outer rural islands He is the HR director of electrical engineering, energy solutions and construction management Nate is a Best Buy software analyst
Commissioners tackle county business
By Irene Van Winkle West Kerr Current
After an overall positive assessment of the big eclipse event, Kerr County commissioners tackled a short agenda to get back on track with county business
They approved a request to hold an International Day of Prayer on May 2 at the courthouse grounds
District Clerk Dawn Lantz received approval to continue a contract for new postage equipment, with no increase in price until December 2024
Constable Paul Gonzalez asked for the court to approve his department to receive a spare SUV for his deputies to use as a backup vehicle, which would only need fuel and maintenance expenses The court approved his request
The court also approved intergovernmental agreements with agencies participating in a hazard mitigation action plan, which includes the City of Ingram, Kerrville schools, KPUB and UGRA Scott Gaige of the sheriff ’s department
Warrior band earns top marks
The Ingram Tom Moore High School’s concert band proved its mettle during a March 27 University Interscholastic League concert and sightreading contest at Boerne Champion High School earning top marks
More importantly, the band’s perform-
ance and an outstanding marching band season helped the Warriors earn a
“Sweepstakes Band” designation by UIL
“The band members have worked unbelievably hard to pull this performance together,” said Samuel Bigott, ITM’s director of bands “We have added
morning sectionals almost every day of the week, and these kids are involved in everything from Athletics, One Act Play, Art and UIL Academics, not to mention many of them take an array of college
By Irene Van Winkle
West
Kerr County area towns and businesses provided a feast of knowlege, music and welcoming events surrounding the Great North American eclipse for days and leading up to the actual event on Monday afternoon
Officials tried to estimate crowds from 50,000 to 100,000, but in the end, it was nearly impossible to know Kerrville and the surrounding towns were asking people to make sure they wore their special glasses and talked greatly about the “magic” path of totality
Special guests and learned speakers appeared in many area venues, including the Butt Holdsworth Public Library, Schreiner University,
Headwaters: Prepare for more extreme drought in 2024
n October, Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District downgraded from Drought Stage 4 to Drought Stage 3, which has remained in effect through the end of 2023 and all of 2024 to date
Over the fall and winter months, most of Texas has been fortunate enough to experience plentiful rainfall and a subsequent recovery from the drought, with the exception of Kerr County and the surrounding Hill Country, which has been and continues to remain in Extreme Drought (Level 3) Since October, the change in the weather pattern from La Niña to El Niño has not brought any significant rainfall to Kerr County, which has been 10 53 inches of rain
versus the average of 11 65 inches for the same time span (October-March)
Looking forward the longterm weather forecasts are predicting that a transition from El Niño to El NiñoNeutral is likely by AprilJune 2024, with a 62 percent chance of La Niña developing by June-August 2024
These transitions mean that chances for rain are expected to be slightly above average for April, and below
The long-anticipated huge portion of the moon transformed the sun into a tiny sliver on Monday during a beautiful eclipse, a phenomenon that drew thousands to
Photo by Tony Ga lucci
Photo by Irene Van Winkle
West Kerr Current
Friday, April 5
At approximately 3:30 p m , a citizen arrived at the Ingram Police Department and reported receiving threatening phone calls and texts The investigation is ongoing
Cooperative as the presenting sponsor to Light the Y for the Christmas season on Nov 24 2024
Kerr County Judge Rob
Kelly reported that the county is working to finalize the county budget by Aug 8 The planning meetings will be televised for the public to watch Kerr County Precinct 4
Commissioner Don Harris reported on the March 27 Agricultural Tax Questionnaire Town Hall conducted with Kerr Central Appraisal District
While Harris organized the town hall, Kelly reminded that the county does not have any responsibility for appraisals; rather it comes from the State of Texas Comptroller ’s Office
“The questionnaire is something developed by KCAD and the chief appraiser
Sharon Constantinides for Kerr County,” said Harris “A lot of the questions pertained to hunting leases From the feedback that she obtained from the residents, it will get tweaked for the future to make it better Don’t just throw it (the questionnaire) in the trash ”
Kirk Griffin, who previously served on the KCAD board of directors added, “KCAD puts together the prices of what they feel the values are, and it all goes to Austin The Comptroller will look at it and say your values are not right They kick it back, and you get an order from the State Comptroller and State Attorney General that says
Officers were focused on traffic enforcement during this week
thou shalt increase the values
The local appraisal district has no say in this ” Harris addressed rumors swirling around West Kerr County about a bluff across the North Fork of the Guadalupe River from Camp Stewart
Harris clarified there is no development Charlie Hastings has been in contact with the owner who had contracted for some clearing work which inadvertently caused a rockslide
Harris added that the owner is embarrassed by the incident and has hired three engineers to assist with the remediation Harris said that the problem is under investigation by Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the county
In City of Ingram news, Stuart Gross, who coordinates code enforcement for the city, announced he is now officially licensed in city code enforcement “Everything is going smoothly including a new administration office assistant
Again, the City of Ingram Clean-Up Day at the City Event Grounds is scheduled for May 11 at 8 a m People who live in the City of Ingram may bring household trash, brush and scrap metal
He said, They are typically jam packed by 11:30 a m ”
They are not accepting hazardous waste but are trying to work with the county to establish a hazardous waste clean-up day People may call 830-367-5115
Thursday, April 11
League of Women Voters will provide a free, nonpartisan presentation to inform voters on the specific mechanics of voting in Kerr County changes to voting laws up to date info about upcoming elections and resources to help make a plan to vote Dietert Center, 451 Guadalupe St , Kerrville, 5:30-7:30 p m
Friday, April 12
Lady Warrior softball vs Brady, here, JV/V, 5/7 p m Warrior baseball vs Brady, here, JV/V, 4:30/7 p m
Saturday, April 13
Riverside Nature Center Plant Walk & Talk with Kim Ort, Texas Master Naturalist identifying local wildflowers; register at riversidenaturecenter org Free 8-9:30 a m
Kidney Solutions (a local nonprofit providing free mentoring and support groups) will be hosting its free 2nd Annual FunD walk (pet friendly) at Schreiner University Registration at 8 a m For more info go to kidneysolutions org
Monday, April 15
Warrior baseball vs Comfort, there, JV/V, 4:30/7 p m Kerr County Historical Commission meeting David Shields, museum director, will present on the National Museum of the Pacific War (Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg) Open to the public, Union Church Bldg, 101 Travis Kerrville noon KPA! Safe House West Kerr Chamber Ribbon Cutting 2102 Memorial Blvd , Kerrville, 1 p m
Tuesday, April 16
Lady Warrior softball vs Comfort there JV/V 6 p m
Riverside Nature Center Nedtalk “Search for Life in the Universe” with Michael R McGinnis, PhD discussing tools that can be used to explore the universe for life Fee: $5; register at riversidenaturecenter org or 830-257-4837 1-2 p m
League of Women Voters Will provide the same info described in listing on Thursday, April 11 ; same location and time Hill Country Camera Club Meeting Hands on Macro Photography Workshop Open to the public, KACC doors open at 6:30 p m , meeting 7-8:30 p m
Wednesday, April 17
Kerrville Genealogical Society Meeting Special Workshop, Effective Genealogy Research and an Introduction to PERSI, Steve Mable speaker Open to the
West Kerr County Chamber of Commerce Past President Gaylyn Dieringer and current President Bobby Templeton updated the FTG regarding additional lighting along Hwy 39 from the bridge to Moore’s
They are working with KPUB to finalize pricing The poles will look like cast iron but will actually be made of concrete They also hope to eventually include lighting along the loop The lights
will project only downward,” said Templeton
He said he is still looking for a chairperson for the flag campaign at the front of Ingram Tom Moore High School
The next West Kerr County Chamber of Commerce Mixer will be at The Hunt Store on Thursday, April 25, at 5:15 p m and is co-sponsored by Hill Country Luxury Living Real Estate
The next FTG meeting will be on May 2 at 8:30 a m The public is welcome
public, Guadalupe Basin Natural Resource Center (UGRA), 125 Lehman Dr , Kerrville, 2-4 p m
Thursday, April 18
Friends of the Texas Historical Commission Webinar Katherine Sharp Landdeck, PhD, professor of history at Texas Women’s University will present “Trained in Texas The Inspiring Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II ” To register visit thefriends org/event/trainedin-texas-the-inspiring-story-of-the-women-airforce-servicepilots-of-the-world-war-ii, 6-7:30 pm
Hill Country Preppers will host Professor Jeffery Addicott, director of the Warrior Defense Project at St Mary’s University School of Law His topic will be national security Open to the public, Buzzie’s BBQ, 213 Schreiner St Kerrville 6 p m
Monday, April 22
Warrior baseball vs Florence, here, JV/V,
Arts foundation offering April workshops
The Hill Country Arts Foundation is offering classe during April, offering an opportunity to relax and destress while experiencing the joy of creating art!
This Saturday, April 13, from 10 a m until 2 p m , Andrea Rummel will be teaching a wet felting class for beginners Wet felting is a unique and creative way to transform wool into personalized art In this class you will learn the basic techniques
Wet felted wine holders
On Friday, April 26, from 5:30 to 7 p m Phyllis Garey
will be leading a class on decoupage a fun evening called Wine and Whimsy! Remember the decoupage craze of the 70s? Well, there is a reason it was so popular It’s a fun and creative way to make something plain into something beautiful! All supplies are provided for this class
On April 27 and 28 from 10 a m until 4:30 p m , Gaylynne Robinson will introduce SoulCollage Card Decks
This class will introduce you
to the process of making a soulcollage card deck using images from magazines, internet or old books No art skills needed to create these cards that are guaranteed to surprise and delight you
To register or for information on these workshops and other activities at HCAF visit the website at www hcaf com or call at 830-367-5121
The Hill Country Arts Foundation is located at 120 Point Theater Rd S in Ingram
Mental health educator to speak to breast cancer group
Certified Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Educator Susan Becmer will present “Confirming Your Feelings are Real” to The Hill Country Breast Cancer Support Group on Wednesday, April 24, at Peterson Regional Medical Center Hospice/Home Health Building 250 Cully Dr , Classroom A, at 6 p m
Becmer’s certifications are from the National Alliance on Mental Health and QPR Institute (Question Persuade Refer)
Her skill set and experience in the mental health field helps families learn and cope with many difficult circumstances
Presently Becmer serves as Director of Education for Together With Hill
Debra Ann Reed, 66, of Kerrville, passed from this life on April 2, 2024 at a hospital in San Antonio Funeral arrangements are by Kerrville Funeral Home
Mary L Walker 81 of Kerrville, passed away Friday, April 5, 2024 Funeral arrangements are by Grimes Funeral Chapels
Lois Eugenia Schlieter, 88, of Kerrville, passed away Friday April 5 2024 in Kerrville Funeral arrangements are by Grimes Funeral Chapels
Stephen Alan McCarrick 72, of Kerrville, passed away Friday, April 5, 2024, in
Country Veterans and Affiliate Leader for NAMI Greater Fredericksburg
Any cancer or chronic illness often is accompanied by feelings of uncertainty, fear and distress Yet, patients are frequently instructed to remain stress free Becmer will discuss these feelings and coping strategies The meeting is free
The purpose of the group, which meets monthly, is to offer camaraderie and support for people with all types of breast cancer The intent of the organization is to share information about resources and personal experiences, but the group will not offer medical advice The organization is free and open to anyone interested
Death notices
Fredericksburg Funeral arrangements are by Grimes Funeral Chapels
Robert Douglas Streckfus, 59, of Center Point, passed away from this life on April 5 2024 in a local hospital Funeral arrangements are by Wright’s Funeral Parlor
Shirley Mae Johnson 87 of Kerrville, passed away Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Kerrville Funeral arrangements are by Grimes Funeral Chapels
Linda Lee Hampton, 78, of Kerrville passed from this life on April 6, 2024 at a local hospital Funeral arrange-
primarily in the subject of breast cancer prevention or treatment, but those with any cancer diagnosis or caregivers also are welcome
The group’s organizers, Kari Potter and Kari Short, both breast cancer survivors believe there is empowerment for those dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis through information and a vast network of positive encouragement from people who have experienced the same journey Interested participants may contact either organizer with questions: Kari Potter 830-285-2684 or karipotter94@yahoo com and Kari Short 281-660-1708 or
Water Conservation Tip of the Week: Choose Native Plants
Visit UGRA s website for more information on water conservation and landscaping: www ugra org/major-initiatives/eduscape
King Crossword
Ingram City Council hears annexation pros and cons
Annexation advocates are one step closer to their goal after Ingram City Council held the first of two public hearings Tuesday evening Six Ingram residents spoke at the hearing, although only three of them own property in the affected area John Hill presented the annexation petition and map of the proposed area that includes approximately 232
acres on either side of Highway 27 east of Ingram He told the Council that landowners were doing this to “escape Kerrville’s clutches ” We prefer no city taxes compared to Kerrville’s tremendous taxes They just want to use us as a tax base so they can float a bond to pay for that dam they made a $2 8 million mistake on,” Hill said “We have to protect ourselves from Kerrville John C Adams told Hill he was already protected from Kerrville since his land was in Ingram s extraterritorial jurisdiction
Adams explained that he was confused about why annexation was being proposed “Eventually you’ll be annexed anyway, said Councilman Monroe Schlabach
Ingram Mayor Donald Oehler emphasized that the City of Ingram did not initiate the annexation proceedings We didn 't start this, but now we’re doing our part by having these public hearings to listen to residents tell us how they feel about the annexation” Oehler said
‘Soup’s On’ fundraiser, special silent auction next Thursday, April 18
The Eclipse has now come and gone and I hope everyone had a great time experiencing the wonder of it all
Since I am having to write this a little earlier than usual, I can’t report on the actual day itself, but I do know that in preparation for the day, our Meals on Wheels clients were provided extra food to cover the first part of the week and assurance from the volunteers that all would be back to normal very soon We also delivered eclipse glasses that were donated by the City of Kerrville, Guy OverbyEdward Jones Investments, and Broadway Bank I can’t wait to hear all about your experiences
Make plans to join us for our Dietert Center Friendship
Dietert Center Brenda Thompson
Cafe s “Soup’s On” fundraiser and soup dinner
Join us for a fun, casual dinner, and a special Silent Auction on Thursday, April 18, from 5:30-7:30 p m The silent auction will feature handcrafted items from the Hill Country Wood Turners, and believe me, you don’t want to miss out bidding on these items
We have received more than 40 of them already, and they are spectacular The
group came to us with an idea of a fundraiser and since we have acquired a great reputation for the homemade soup served in the Friendship Café, we decided to incorporate both items for a fun event
Proceeds will benefit our Dietert Center Meals on Wheels program Reserve your seat for only $20 at the front desk, or online at dietertcenter org Admission on the day of the event will be $30
You can preview the auction items at https://www 32auctions com/ SoupsOn2024, and be sure to check back often, as items may be added throughout the next couple of weeks Online bidding and “Buy It Now” options are now available
If you would like to see the items in person before making your bid, we have them displayed upstairs in the Admin office at the center Stop by anytime from 9 a m5 p m Give Paige Sumner, Director of Philanthropy a call at 830-792-4044 if you have any questions, or need additional information
Our Club Ed and Travel Coordinator Dorothy Beene has decided to leave us and spend some time traveling herself, and most importantly, loving on her new grandson Dorothy has been a part of our Dietert family for over 10 years and we are certainly going to miss her Stop by on Friday, April 12, from 1-3 p m to bid her well wishes and lots of fun The good news is that she promises to come back to volunteer with us soon Happy Trails Dorothy and to her husband Jay, as well
Club Ed has some great classes lined up in April
including Voter 101-What s New on the 11th Brain Booster on the 12th, Texas License to Carry on the 13th, Understanding Dementia Behaviors for Caregivers on the 16th, and Healthy Eating on the 18th
Our second Free Family Fun Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, from 2-4 p m Bring your family of all ages, and join in on the fun Dietert Center and Heart of the Hills Heritage Center are providing this fun opportunity to learn new games new skills, or bring your favorite game to share with others
We only have a few seats left for the Lucky Eagle Casino bus trip on the 23rd The bus leaves at 7 a m and returns at 7 p m Reserve your spot soon to try your luck
Do you have a homebound friend or family member, aged 60-plus who needs Meals on Wheels? Give us a call at 830-896-8117 to review guidelines for the Meals on Wheels program to get you started
If you are able to drive or catch a ride with a friend, please join us for lunch at the Friendship Café and enjoy great food Doors open at 11 with lunch served 11:30-
12:30 If you are a Kerr County resident 60 years or older, and complete some annual paperwork for us, the meal is by donation; otherwise, the meal is $8
The menu for the week is: Wednesday – Turkey Tetrazzini
Thursday – Potato Crusted Fish Friday – Frito Pie
Monday – Garlic & Herb Chicken Thigh
Tuesday – Salisbury Steak
Wednesday – Beef Tips
Please give us a call at 830-792-4044 if you have any questions or need additional information about our programs and resources
Audiences applaud ‘Brigadoon’
Opening weekend audiences offered high praise for “Brigadoon,” the classic American musical that opens the season for Playhouse 2000, Kerrville’s Community Theater at the Cailloux Theater Lerner and Loewe’s tuneful fairy tale will run through April 21, with performances at 7:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 Sundays
With comments like “it was fantasic!,” “great cast,” “I was blown away,” and knocked it out of the park!, audience members have been sharing their delight with the show and urging all their friends and neighbors not to miss it
Among the specifics called out for special praise were the show’s scenery, lighting and costumes, and the high quality accompaniment provided by the live, professional orchestra
Scenic designs for “Brigadoon” were created by Jeff Cunningham, director of theater for Schreiner University (who also happens to appear on stage in the show ) Scenic units were constructed by volunteers Dick Lockwood, Kim Piel, Judd Vermillion and Riley Royce Smith
The scenes were painted by volunteers Jude Moore, Judd Vermillion and students of Schreiner’s Theatre Practicum class under Cunningham’s supervision
Boerne Performing Arts will host one of its more unusual acts Monday night, April 22, at Champion High School Auditorium when the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain comes to town
Audiences should expect the unexpected from these worldrenowned musicians in an evening of delightfully unorthodox renditions crossing many musical genres performed exclusively on ukuleles, harmonizing and lending vocals and laughs in a very British sort of way
This famous orchestra has performed around the globe in such noted places and venues as Carnegie Hall in New York; the Polar Jazz Festival in the Arctic Circle in Svalbard, Sweden; the Royal Opera
MaKenzie Morton, left, and Faith Wrana dance in this scene from “Brigadoon,” at The Cailloux Theater through April 21
The lighting design was provided by long-time Playhouse 2000 Technical Director Nicholas Boland, with the assistance of Lynx Brittain The lighting effects beautifully enhance the set’s ability to place the audience in the Highlands of Scotland, where the story takes place
The costumes were specified by Playhouse 2000 Costume Coordinator
Amy Goodyear and created by “A Cut Above Costumes” in Round-Rock, Texas Final adjustments were made locally by volunteers Diane Royce-Smith and Kevin Nixon
The show’s lush musical score is accompanied by a live, professional orchestra of 15, many of which are members from The Symphony of the Hills, under the baton of Jeffrey Brown The use of a full, live orchestra is unique in the Hill Country
The production was directed by Playhouse 2000 Executive Director Jeffrey Brown and Peterson Middle School Theater teacher Heather Cunningham The Stage Manager is Kerri Sparkman
“Brigadoon” will continue in The Cailloux Theater through April 21, on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, and Sundays at 2:30
Tickets are $24 and $28 for adults and $15 and $16 for children and all students with ID They can be purchased through The Cailloux Box Office, 910 Main St , either in person or by telephone, (830) 896-9393, or online at CaillouxPerformingArts com, where a small convenience fee will apply
More information is available at CaillouxPerformingArts com
Hall in London; the Sydney Opera House in Australia; Chongqing Taindi Theatre in China; and, naturally, for Queen Elizabeth when she celebrated her 90th birthday in the UK
Its arrangements are written by the director and founding member, George Hinchliffe, or by other members of the ensemble and aim to remain faithful to the spirit and notes
Schreiner offers free concert
April 20
Schreiner University is offering its 6th Annual Spring Concert in celebration of 2024 Recall, featuring Cody Canada & The Departed on Saturday, April 20, on the front lawn of the campus in front of the Cailloux Campus Activity Center The family-friendly event is free and open to all, with food trucks and vendors on site
The concert will run from 5 p m to 10:30 p m , with performances by Cody Canada & The Departed from 9-10:30; and Dawson Hollow Band from 7-8:30 Students and staff, including Kay O’Neill and Srinivas Koumounduri, will entertain from 5 to 7 p m Canada, known as lead singer and guitarist for Cross Canadian Ragweed and The Departed, has released two
of the songs they cover while creating a surprising new sound with the unique character of the ukulele
The variety of ukuleles played includes all registers from soprano to bass while implementing harmonies plucking techniques and changes to the style or genre of familiar music to entertain audiences with something unexpectedly fresh and brilliant Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain has had a tremendous impact on the explosion of interest in the ukulele instrument and the swell of ukulele enthusiasts world-wide
They will continue to educate and raise interest with tomorrow’s musicians right here in Boerne by participating in a student outreach program for Boerne ISD fourth graders in a
Entertainment Guide Entertainment
April 11 - May 11
• Guadalupe Watercolor Group Judged Exhibit
• Schreiner University
Senior Graphic Arts Projects
• The Art of Carlos Moseley & Gerald Tobola
well-received albums and won the Texas Country Music Association’s Trailblazer Award last year Dawson Hollow is an American Indie-Folk-Rock band made up of five siblings from the Ozark Mountains The Spring Concert is part of Recall weekend April 1921, when students, alumni, and community supporters gather to celebrate their connection to Schreiner University
More about Schreiner University is online at www schreiner edu
special “For Kids!” performance These programs are offered at no charge to the students and are a foundational commitment for Boerne Performing Arts as they host internationally acclaimed artists to enhance exposure to the arts for young audiences In addition, the Champion High School Orchestra will perform in the lobby before the show and at intermission and artwork by area middle school students will be displayed Concessions will be offered by the orchestra booster organization For tickets ($60 - $40 - $30 - $20 student) and a preview of the artists visit BoernePerformingArts com For questions, call BPA Message Line at 830-331-9079
Cody Canada
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain plucks its
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
average for May and June
With La Niña in effect this summer, the chances for rain during the summer will be even lower than usual
In summary, our chances for rainfall are predicted to dwindle quickly over the next few months
The average streamflow of the Guadalupe River for this time of the year is 97 cubic feet per second (ft3/s) The current streamflow is at 34 9 cubic feet per second (ft3/s), roughly a third of its normal flow Given that the current flow rate is already significantly lower than normal, combined with the predicted lack of rain that will persist through this spring and summer, these updated weather conditions are likely to have an affect on the Guadalupe River similar to last summer
The water levels in the Trinity Aquifers have experienced some slight recovery with a rise of a little over 12 feet from 1397 17 feet above mean sea level to 1409 31
feet above mean sea level
The water levels from October-March are almost identical to the water levels in the aquifer during this same period of time in 2022/2023
Therefore, this recovery of 12 feet in our water levels has simply returned the situation to where it was at this time last year, while also being on the forefront of another hot and rainless summer
To summarize our situation, the water conditions and weather forecasts for Kerr County are both resetting themselves to create another summer similar to or worse than last summer
What little rain we have received has created the appearance that Kerr County is no longer in drought, but this long-standing drought has not receded and is still actively present in our area of Texas All of our water resources in Kerr County are expected to be under stress again this coming summer
Given these circumstances, Headwaters GCD is recommending to all Kerr County residents that they keep water conservation in mind during
the next few months
If you are planning a new lawn or a new swimming pool project for your home, consider postponing these projects to a later date when the large water demand for these projects will not increase the strain on our water resources leading up to or during a drought
For small or large landscaping projects, consider using drought-resistant plants or xeriscaping your yard as an alternative to using plants or groundcover that need regular watering
Headwaters GCD would like to remind all public water system customers to continue to follow the conservation guidelines that have been communicated by their public water system operators, to include any directives regarding lawn and landscape watering, which constitutes approximately 40-60 percent of all household water usage
Due to lawn irrigation, the average U S per household water use is 442 gallons per day In Australia, where drought is a standard, the per household water use is a surprisingly sufficient 94 gallons per day
Some additional lawn and landscape water conservation tips include: One inch of water per
week in the summer will
keep most Texas grasses
healthy To determine how long you should run your sprinklers, place straightedged cans at different distances away from the sprinkler and time how long it takes to fill an average of one inch of water in each can
Don t abuse the benefits of an automatic sprinkler system by over-watering Set it to provide thorough but infrequent watering Check sprinkler heads regularly to make sure they are working properly Install rain shut-off devices and adjust sprinklers to eliminate coverage on pavement
Use drip irrigation systems for bedded plants, trees or shrubs For lawns, use low-angle sprinklers that spray towards the ground instead of towards the air
When you do water, do it during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speeds are the lowest This reduces loss from evaporation
Don’t scalp lawns when mowing during hot weather; taller grass holds moisture better A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closelyclipped lawn Also, leave lawn clippings on the lawn
instead of bagging
If you are considering putting in a rainwater catchment barrels, this spring would be a good time to implement them while there are still chances for rain
Additionally, attaching a water catchment barrel to the dripline from your air conditioning unit can store anywhere from five to 20 gallons of water every single day
This is an excellent option that provides a continual source of water for your plants and landscaping needs, even during a drought when there is no rain
By state law, exempt well owners are not required to comply with drought restrictions However, when the water level decreases in a groundwater well, this can put a strain on the well’s existing equipment As an exempt well owner, conserving water usage during times of drought may prevent expensive pump repairs or prevent well damage that could render the well permanently inoperable
Additionally, having a pump-saver installed on the well will prevent a pump from burning out, if or when the water level drops too low in the well Any local pump installation company can assist with equipping one of these pump-saving
As a reminder, HGCD’s Drought Stage 3 and Drought Stage 4 restrictions prohibit the pumping of groundwater from permitted wells into ponds, lakes or reservoirs for the purpose of enhancing the appearance of the landscape during these particular drought stages
Therefore, at this time, pumping groundwater into any pond for the sole purpose of appearance or landscape enhancement is a prohibited use for all groundwater
Well, the eclipse was interesting ducking in and out of clouds, but we did get the full fall of darkness with the birds stopping all their sounds The rain, however, was disappointing
Get out your shovels Visit your local nurserymen and start picking out your decorative plants and your vegetables We usually plant eggplant, peppers and tomatoes by mid to late April
The soil is warm enough now for carrots, cucumbers, squash, beans, radishes, blackeyed peas, purple hull peas, parsley, cilantro, marigolds, nasturtium, zinnias, gourds, bells of Ireland, hollyhocks, larkspur, cosmos, cardinal vine, sweet peas, scarlet runner beans and any other seeds that recommend planting after the last possibility of frost
It might be OK to plant okra, but waiting another couple of weeks won’t hurt anything and may make the seeds germinate better with the slightly warmer soil
Soaking large seeds (beans, peas, etc ) or plants in liquid fertilizer and seaweed is a great way to stimulate germination prevent planting shock and strengthen plants
With smaller seeds, you can plant, then sprinkle the seeds with one of these mixtures before covering the seeds
Now is also a good time to start accordion composting
Dig a trench a foot wide between rows of planted seeds that is the length of the row Now, start filling it up with all manner of organic matter that has been cut up or chipped up
Organic matter includes almost anything from your kitchen, such as peelings, leftovers, coffee grounds (great for acidifying a bit), crushed egg shells corncobs peanut or pecan shells, citrus waste, and most anything that spoiled before you got to use it
Avoid meat products dairy products and oils or only use in moderation These tend to decompose very slowly, smell bad and attract pests
Everything decomposes faster if it is cut up, so consider cutting up your peels and stalks as your toss them into your container that is bound for the “trenches ”
Organic matter from your yard comes in two colors green and brown
You need some of each in your holes Green matter would be any clippings from live plants or spent plants, deadheaded flowers, weeds, thinned seedlings, and on and on
Brown matter would be leaves, sticks, spoiled hay or straw, sawdust, and such For sticks it is probably best to chip them up a bit to speed up the decomposition process
Dump some of your leaves that fell in the fall in your trenches along with some green clippings Add a layer
of manure from vegetative feeders (cows, sheep, poultry, bats, etc , but not cats, dogs or people)
Preferably, the hole is filled about 80 percent with vegetative matter and about 20 percent with manure, but this is not a critical composition, and materials are usually somewhat layered Green manure is fine as it accelerates the whole process
When the trenches are full, sprinkle some agricultural molasses beer and soil activator on top and cover with a few inches of dirt
This should be fully ready for planting your fall vegetables on top of the trenches
Then in the fall, you can reverse the process, and make the trenches where your spring plants were growing
This is the simplest form of composting that just takes care of itself and blends right into nature
This type of composting can also be done with a few “holes” scattered in your current beds to enrich the soil
You can also plant near the holes or trenches so that the new plants’ roots will reach the trenches and the good, rich compost after a few months when it has started full decomposition All of your plants and vegetables will benefit from this rich compost as their roots grow into the humusy area
Plant of the Week: California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are easy to grow from scattered seeds in the fall They come up early in April, and the crisp, bright, yellow-orange flowers are spectacular
These naturalize themselves very well and are a great, early spring bloomer
Chores for this week: Keep weeding! Spray your thistles on a regular basis, dousing the middle of the plant while the sun is brightly shining Pour on the molasses and soil activator to keep stimulating the soil, particularly in the weak spots in lawns, in your flower beds, in your vegetable gardens, and even in your compost pile
Keep weeding! Spray your thistles on a regular basis, dousing the middle of the plant while the sun in brightly shining with vinegar solution
Start planting Tune up your lawnmower
We encourage your questions comments or your own “Personal Plant of the Week” by writing David at dsteiny@gvtc com
Outdoors
Cashing
Looks like everyone tried to “cash in” on the Total Eclipse of the Sun however they could!
Neighbors close to us rented camping spaces on their ranch and offered horseback riding and tacos They had a beautiful view
Others rented RV spaces with viewing glasses included Some had live music and food trucks to lure people in Facebook had multiple sites including spoofs where people were renting their sheds for $1 000 per night air mattress included! It was definitely entertainment Some
While reading emails with my overgrown Pointer/Labrador taking a Lab-Nap on my lap, I received an email from Tom Granberry, a renown turkey hunter A video was attached It opened with several turkeys moving slowly at the edge of a clearing 40 yards away A few seconds later one of the birds gobbled raucously through my iPad
As if gouged with a battery-powered cattle prod, “Chewpee” jerked his head around to confront my iPad – nearly knocking my hot coffee cup out of my hand!
He didn’t know what he had heard but sensed the wildness of the sound It awakened his hunting instincts Studying the iPad for half a minute convinced him it was just another of my electric toys nothing he could point or retrieve
The gobbler affected me too, though less violently Regrettably, Granberry was there and hunting and I wasn’t
At one time, Texas reported having one-fourth of all wild turkeys in America We still have plenty of turkeys, despite declining populations of turkeys and hunters
There’s a world of turkey habitat in Texas
When I began seriously hunting, East Texas had lost most of its turkeys to the Depression and World War II Unbelievable as it sounds fresh meat was scarce during both those events And meat cost more than the price of a shotgun shell Hungry people did what they had to do to survive
That contributed to the decline
Rio Grande turkeys, native to dryer parts of Texas, were not as adaptable to East Texas as hoped The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department then attempted stocking eastern turkeys there This also failed to answer declining populations
So starting next Sept 1 parts of four northeast Texas counties will be closed for spring turkey hunting
Portions of two Central Texas counties will be closed for all turkey hunting sea-
the eclipse
people just don’t have enough to do!
Like many of you, we had company and it was bittersweet that my mother who lived long enough to see the annular eclipse in October,
did not make it to this one
But life goes on and we persevered but missed her
Our ranch was exactly positioned in the middle of where both the annular and total eclipse paths crossed
We were lucky Not having to leave for somewhere else to see it was priceless!
As total solar eclipses are rare in a particular spot on Earth the fact that so many people were able to experience this one made it mighty spectacular
with total closure in Milam County
West of the Pecos River and east of I-35 north of I10, all counties with an open turkey season will revert to a spring-only season April 130 with a one-gobbler annual bag limit
Statewide reporting of all harvested wild turkeys will be required during all seasons, beginning in the fall
Be sure and check the county listings in the TPW Outdoor Annual before hunting next season
TPWD’s wild turkey program leader, Jason Hardin, reminded me that Fridays have now been added to the Fall Youth Hunting Season days for whitetails wild turkeys and squirrels
From reports I have received from hunters and TPWD’s press release, it looks like the current Spring Rio Grande turkey season that opened March 30 in the North Turkey Hunting Zone is going to be a successful one So will the South Zone be, which opened March 16
There should be a number of jakes and older gobblers available
Hardin also suggested hunting turkeys later into the spring season due to fewer hunters afield
Just don’t try to look at email videos from known turkey hunters while drinking hot coffee with a big dog asleep on your lap!
sons then, too, along
The Dirt on Hill Country Gardening
Photo by John Jefferson
Horseback riding and tacos were offered to eclipse visitors
Photo by Helen Arcenaeux
District champion
Lady Warrior Lily Rumbo, a freshman, is the District Champion in the 3200 M event Here she competes at the District meet in Llano April 1 Warrior Zehne Glover is the District Champion in Pole Vault
ITM softball
Lady Warrior Jaycee Crawley bats against Llano on Friday, April 5 ITM lost the home game
0-12 The Lady Warriors will play Brady at home this Friday, April 12, at 7 p m , and will play their final game of the regular season on Tuesday, April 16, in Comfort. The team is 15-11-1 overall and fourth in district at 3-5
2024 Lady Warrior Softball Schedule
Warriors defeat Llano, now second in district
By Danny Schroeder
The Ingram Warrior baseball team defeated the Llano Yellowjackets 9-0 on Friday in Ingram
The Warriors scored 3 runs in the second inning, 4 in the fourth and 2 in the fifth Cason Johnson led the Warriors offense with 2 RBIs Maverick Delgado, Jace Walber, Jaeden Perez and Myles Jordan each had 1 RBI
Aiden Rendon pitched all seven scoreless innings for the Warriors Ingram is in second place in district with a 4-2 record and is 13-10 overall
District play resumes this Friday with a home game against Brady at 7 p m Ingram will play Comfort next Tuesday in Comfort at 4:30 p m
Warrior Tyler Langbein behind the plate in the 9-0 Warrior win against Llano
Warrior Jayden Perez guards first in Llano game
Photos by Tony Ga lucci
Current Sports Editor
Photo by Tony Ga lucci
Photo by Tony Ga lucci
CLASSIFIEDS
1. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: When did April Fools’ Day come into being?
2. GEOGRAPHY: In which nation is the Great Victoria Desert located?
3. MOVIES: What sport is featured in the movie “The Mighty Ducks”?
4. HISTORY: What is the name of the island where Napoleon was exiled in 1814?
5. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is the largest rodent in the world?
6. LITERATURE: What is the name of Ron Weasley’s pet rat in the “Harry Potter” book series?
7. U.S. STATES: Which letter of the alphabet is not in any U.S. state’s name?
8. TELEVISION: Which iconic 1960s sitcom inspired two spinoff hits, “Petticoat Junction” and “Green Acres”?
9. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in WWII?
10. ANATOMY: How many pairs of spinal nerves exist in humans? Answers
1. Likely in the late 16th century, when calendars changed from Julian to Gregorian.
2. Australia.
3. Ice hockey.
4. Elba.
5. Capybara.
6. Scabbers.
7. Q.
8. “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
9. George H.W. Bush.
10. 31 pairs. © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
SYNERGY HomeCare of Boerne
Private Duty Home Care Agency offering Companionship, Homemaking, Personal Care Services is hiring Caregivers, CNA, HHA for immediate positions in Kendall and Kerr counties Call 830-253-6055 today!
Continued from Page 1
at Louise Hays Park and in private groups all around Kerr County, while emergency personnel were on the alert in case of possible emergency
Scientists gave talks about the actual event, its effect on people and animals, while others used props such as a large inflatable planetarium that projected images of the planets and galaxies surrounding Earth and their movements
Photographers of every ilk and skill tried to capture a historic moment to save for posterity
When it finally came down
courses The students here are simply built differently ”
The band cemented its place in school history with maximum scores of 1 during the onstage concert and sightreading assessment
The band had a very challenging musical program to present including a very highenergy march-style piece, “Battle of the Gladiators,” a highly challenging ballad, In the Shining of the Stars” and finishing with another highenergy and rhythmically complex piece to round out their performance “Festivo ”
To showcase the season of
asked to apply for a new Stone Garden grant for FY23, which the court approved
The court approved donating some equipment from the sheriff ’s office that the county did not need to the Civil Air Patrol
Kerr County Sheriff Larry
Leitha informed the county that there is wireless equipment which will be taken down next year and no longer used in a lease that will expire once new equipment and a lease contract is signed by 2026
Leitha said he was not sure which company will take over, although since West Central Wireless has dropped the contract and has gone to Verizon
“I think West Texas can let us stay but there are a lot of costs to move If they let us stay, we’ll look for another tower but with budget season
to the actual event, with everyone in position, as the moon began to cover the sun, palpable waves of excitement rose and fell through the crowds
The progressive light show was intermittent, but each time the sun peeked out or disappeared, there were happy whoops or sighs of disappointment
Although this eclipse was not the magnificent spectacle seen in some other locations, most everyone saw enough that they were able to leave with a smile and a memory
For those who had also experienced the annular eclipse here in October 2023,
work, the bands will perform at 5:30 p m on April 16 at The Annual Evening of the Arts
The event includes an art exhibition by Ingram Art students and a performance by the award-winning One Act
Play troupe The high school program is also excited to announce its upcoming fall marching show, which will tell the story from the film
“The Greatest Showman ” Bigott praised the efforts of seniors Nathaniel Fortner, Shawn Hansen, Luke Huber, Aidan Kelley, Kasandra Marbach, Rebecca Mieske, Teddy Muskievicz, Aniyah Nesbit, William Ragland, Renee Rios and Makayne White
coming up, the owner of the tower may want to take it down It is of no use to Verizon, and we don’t want to get in the tower business ”
Leitha said they will know more in a couple more weeks
The Kerrville Folk Festival is on track for a health permit during its next scheduled festival, May 23-June 9 County Auditor Tanya Shelton said that the most recent internal audit report for the jail commissary and inmate trust was in good order
A defective fire panel in the courthouse was given approval for upgrades to make them safer Funding will most likely come from ARPA funds or a contingency fund
A report on the eclipse event indicated all went well with only a few minor accidents and the court praised the city for doing a good job in its planning
The eclipse experience
Visitors
Continued from Page 1
“I’m definitely the one into astronomy but Jimmy loves it too, he said Kerrville was one of three main cities on the path of totality that NASA chose to host broadcasts
Jimmy and Nate said they came here and the Hawaiian Airlines flight here was only seven hours into Austin They rented a truck and drove in on Monday morning
Jimmy, who is an environmental conservationist, said he loves plants
“I do a lot of conservation work at home, and outside work, I do volunteer work for a nonprofit named Protect and Preserve Hawaii,” he said “It works on restoration to the watershed And I am a science and astronomy enthusiast It’s so special here, because the moon is bigger than the sun ” He believes in the Hawaiian “mano ” or force that works everywhere
“We are part of the Polynesian triangle, he added and the pair gave a history of the Hawaiian culture, language and origin
We have an urge to travel ” he said “I’ve climbed every mountain on the island ”
Everything that comes into Hawaii is by wave, wind and wings It has no predators
“The greenery here feels like back home,” Jimmy added The plant life feels unique It’s nothing like I thought We’re just going to have fun!!”
After leaving Kerrville, Jimmy and Nate sent a farewell message: “Mahalo Nui Loa” (or thank you very much) to Kerrville for an awesome experience!
Many other visitors were from out of town, some very far away Besides the gentlemen from Hawaii and a young man dressed like an astronaut, a group came into one of the downtown stores that was open for business during the eclipse event from very far away was Zen & Alchemy They had a sizable group who dropped by to visit a family from Italy
They were fascinated by the mystical and spiritual art work the crystals and jewelry
They were Valentina and Giovanni Della Lunga from Siena, Italy, and the Ricci family Emiliano Ester Lenoardo and Giulia from Florence
Giovanni is a mathematician, Ester is a physicist,
Valentina is an economist, while Leonardo works in art and history
They had come to San Antonio from Dallas, and were on their way to Idaho and the New England area
All of them were very interested in seeing the eclipse and sharing their experience of seeing Texas and parts of the United States
Others who came included young Declan Miller, 7, from south Texas, who walked around everywhere, wearing his very neat NASA astronaut suit He is home schooled and was able to come with his family to view the eclipse
Another young lady had come from the land down under to celebrate her graduation with a master s degree
Agencies and officials had nothing but praise for how it all transpired, proud of how
Contact: Gary Bates for Discount Certificate
Intrepid visitors Nate Smith and Jimmy Hernandez came to Kerrville from the state of Hawaii to see the full eclipse
One of the visiting groups, seen here at Zen and Alchemy in downtown Kerrville, traveled here from Italy They are, from left, Valentine and Giovanni della Lunga, Emiliano and Ester, Leonardo and Giulia Ricci
NASA heliophysics scientist Roshanak Hakimzadeh, hosted an educational array of literature concerning the full eclipse at the Butt Holdsworth Memorial Library last Sunday.
In between their broadcasts while reporting on the full eclipse in Kerrville is a trio of reporters from CNN television at Louise Hays Park.
Photos by Irene Van Winkle