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CONTENTS
FAVORITES 6
FIVE QUESTIONS with Josh & Ellen McGinty of Agape Java
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HOME AND GARDEN Solutions for the stay-at-home lifestyle
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HEALTHY HABITS Good habits aren’t just good for pandemics
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WHAT MAKES TEXAS “TEXAS” The Texas Rangers
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BELLE CHIMES IN Is it just me...?
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FOOD Too hot for the stove top
4 FEATURES 3
WESTWARD EXPANSION Liberty Hill growth tied to small-town charm, strong school system
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STATE OF THE CITY Mayor Rick Hall guides Liberty Hill through growing pains
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HOPE HOUSE Life-long care for adults with disabilities
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Hope House provides care for a lifetime thanks to a committed staff & abundant community and volunteer support.
16 ON THE COVER Mayor Rick Hall, with his wife Jerri, shares his challenges, triumphs, and vision for the future
THE MOST TEXAS-Y THINGS ABOUT TEXAS
Retired Texas Ranger Matt Lindemann gives us a modern-day look at these legendary- and global- icons of law enforcement.
of Liberty Hill. Photo by Rudy Ximenez.
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Digest Published by Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC
PUBLISHER
Cathy Payne
Like many of the best in her craft, Cathy has a specialized degree—in her case, hard science—and a gift for writing. She found her voice and fulfilment reporting and writing news and magazine features for a regional Central Texas audience. Along with serving as the publisher of the Liberty Hill Digest, Cathy oversees multiple magazines, marketing campaigns, and books.
EDITOR Ann Marie Ludlow Kennon While not a native of Texas, Ann Marie is at home here. With a quarter-century of writing, reporting, and marketing behind her, she not only writes about central Texas, she dove into community service almost as soon as she moved here. Currently, she is on the board of the Williamson County Child Advocacy Center and Carver Elementary PTA, and a member of several support organizations.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Charlotte Kovalchuk • Greta Bauer GRAPHICS & DESIGN Zion Pistole • Ann Marie Kennon CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rudy Ximenez • David Valdez ACCOUNT SERVICES Debbie Tolliver DISTRIBUTION David Schumacher IT/WEBMASTER Jesse Payne CONSULTANT W. Ben Daniel
ADVERTISING Mark Elliott 512-240-2267 • 512-746-4545 mark@fpgtx.com
Liberty Hill Digest is a Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC publication. Copyright © 2020 All rights reserved. Liberty Hill Digest is published monthly and mailed USPS, free of charge, to homes and businesses in Liberty Hill, TX zip codes. Mail may be sent to Liberty Hill Digest, P.O. Box 213, Jarrell, TX 76537.
Email: info@fpgtx.com
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ANN MARIE KENNON EDITOR’S NOTE I am very pleased to bring you the inaugural issue of Liberty Hill Digest magazine. When I changed my college major (oh, so long ago), and my tuition-paying parents asked what I could do with an English degree, I told them my goal was to be a magazine editor. They are finally getting their money’s worth! Fidelis Publishing Group has a strong foundation and I believe we have created a superlative brand to entertain and inform this thriving and fast-growing community. Magazines are about trust and partnership, so we will strive, always, to keep you engaged with meaningful packages of the ideas, people, and stories that make Liberty Hill a unique place to live. We have every intention of keeping that hometown feel, bearing in mind that this hometown is expanding. The growth that continues in Liberty Hill brings a diversity and richness of its own and provides an incredible blend with those who have lived here for generations. With that in mind, we begin with the “State of the City” from Mayor Rick Hall, a glance at real estate growth, and a heartfelt look at one of Central Texas’ gems of good works, Hope House. I am also quite proud to present the first installment of a regular feature, “What Makes Texas, ‘Texas’?” Among the many things of which Texas can be proud, the Texas Rangers represent the best of our cultural DNA. In the coming months we will add more interesting and highly-targeted content—regular features and local experts; we will share life-hacks, and highlight things to do in a day or places that are worth the drive. You’ll also be introduced to “Belle”, who shares observations on life with a healthy dose of satire. I am excited for what is to come; the new Liberty Hill Digest staff hopes you are too. And... let us hear from you, too. What would you like to see in these pages in the months to come?
growth
by Charlotte Kovalchuk
Westward Expansion: Liberty Hill Growth Tied To Small-Town Charm, Strong School System
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ith a small-town feel, highly rated school district, and a toll road facilitating a quick trip to Austin, it’s no wonder folks are flocking to Liberty Hill. A discernable gauge of the growth in western Williamson County, Liberty Hill continues its progress from more rural ranching and farming into one of the fastest-growing communities in the Austin metro area. Fortunately, it also keeps its pastoral, small-town experience intact, says Kim Sanders, a real estate agent with the Keller Williams Liberty Hill Group. “I believe leadership is working hard to maintain that small-town feel,” she says. According to the 2018 population count, there are 2,600 residents within the city limits, which Mayor Rick Hall estimates will grow to around 4,000 this year. Even more impressive is the aggregate 38,000 who live within the ETJ and trade areas surrounding the city proper. Housing developments like Santa Rita Ranch, Rancho Sienna, and MorningStar have sprung up around Ronald Reagan Boulevard and along the State Highway 29 corridor to meet the growing demand for homes. While 2020 and COVID have brought a general sense of disruption, Liberty Hill’s growth has not been affected, with 216 homes sold in the first five months, compared to 200 during the same period last year. The median home
price remained steady at around $300,000. “As people acclimate to the new normal, the market will remain strong,” says Shane White, broker/owner of RE/MAX Town & Country.
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL One major draw is the school district, which has an “A” rating and a “Recognized, Character Plus” district designation from the Texas Education Agency. The 183A Toll Road has also served as a driving force, Shane says, allowing commuters a relatively quick route to north Austin. Matt Powell, interim executive director of the city’s Economic Development Corporation, highlighted a scenic town and fun events.
“We have that wonderful community spirit here,” he says. “It’s a beautiful place to live, and the community festivals are so much fun. Obviously, the school district is fantastic and well-regarded.” The challenge for a growing Liberty Hill moving forward will be keeping its small-town charm. “We don’t want to lose that small-town feel that makes Liberty Hill so special,” Matt says. “We believe it is possible to grow and not lose your soul in doing so.”
The Santa Rita Ranch Master Planned Community is working to meet the demand for more homes in a growing Liberty Hill. Photo courtesy of Santa Rita Ranch Master Planned Community. J U LY 2 0 2 0 L I B E R T Y H I L L D I G ES T
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state of the city
by Charlotte Kovalchuk
From Growing Pains To Glowing Gains “Embracing our history and building our future,” was Rick Hall’s campaign slogan when he ran for mayor of Liberty Hill in 2018. Two years and one term later, that vision has not changed. “There are a lot of fast-growing towns around the country, but they don’t have this anymore—this smalltown feel,” Rick says. “Liberty Hill will not always be small, but I want to keep that hometown feel in [the downtown] while improving and building our future.”
MORE ABOUT MAYOR HALL Born in west Texas, Rick’s career at DHL Express included a brief relocation in Ohio. He returned to Texas to open an Austin regional call center in Liberty Hill, and later became a health insurance agent. After retiring from the private sector, he decided the next chapter would be about service to his community. He moved into leadership of the Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce and the city’s Economic Development Corporation Board. While on the EDC board, he recognized the trend in Liberty Hill’s growth was more than standard; it was a boom. “I knew someone needed to step in and help guide the city through its growing pains. I decided to become that person as mayor of Liberty Hill.” As a relative newcomer to the small community, his mayoral campaign was an uphill climb, most notably because his opponent was an 11-year incumbent. However, after much door knocking and connecting with constituents, Rick won by 17 votes. He considered it a pretty good margin considering there were only 129 ballots cast.
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Having managed all of North America for DHL Express, Rick figured managing one small town would be easy.
“I realized quickly that they are two different worlds,” he says. “It was hard work learning municipal law, and instead of answering to one boss, I now report to five council members, and the entire population of Liberty Hill.” Despite its challenges, Rick believes listening to residents at town halls, improving infrastructure with road and water projects, being surrounded by a great staff and having the chance to serve his community—all during a crucial time of growth for the city—have made it all worth it. “Serving this community, seeing the changes as it’s growing; I want to do this for many more years to come as the city keeps growing,” Rick says.
BY THE NUMBERS Like many communities in the Austin metro area that are quickly evolving from their robust ranching and farming roots, the data show Liberty Hill has reached superlative growth rates. “It still has a small-town feel, but it’s rapidly growing,” Rick says. The 2018 population count showed 2,600 residents within the city limits, which the mayor estimates will grow to 4,000 this year. He credits a fair part of that growth to well-run, highly-rated schools serving a district that also includes nearly 38,000 residents of the city, ETJ, and Liberty Hill zip codes. In fact, it was the ISD that led Rick and his wife to move here in 2011 and, he says, the main reason others are flocking to Liberty Hill. Liberty Hill ISD has a 15-to-1 student-teacher ratio, has received an “A” rating and “Recognized, Character Plus” district designation from the Texas Education Agency, and earned a place on the Ninth Annual AP District Honor Roll. LHISD is also a recognized District of Innovation. Another outstanding attraction is the one-of-a-kind International Sculpture Park on the Liberty Hill Intermediate School campus. The park was established in 1976, when 25 sculptors from six countries came to Liberty Hill for two months to create more than 20 monolithic sculptures. The park continues to draw sculptors and festival crowds on an annual basis, and The Smithsonian has even asked to borrow one of the sculptures to include in its Washington, D.C. collection. “It’s a great way to put us on the map to have something at the Smithsonian,” Rick says.
Fortunately, the hard work necessitated by the town’s booming growth has allowed local leaders to raise the bar on city improvement projects. Among the most critical, new water and sewer lines, which the mayor says the city struggled with for years, are in process. Following that, Rick estimates 80 percent of downtown roads to be resurfaced within 18 months. He adds, “Even with this volume of work, thanks to careful planning and good stewardship, Council was still able to lower taxes last year.”
KEEPING IT PERSONAL Being Mayor is about improving quality of life. In addition to working to make Liberty Hill a better place to live, Rick is pleased to have helped improve citizen engagement and stronger community bonds. He gives credit to many who participate in local town halls, but also consistently seeks feedback from folks outside the city limits.
“I really, really enjoy my job as mayor; knowing that I have the responsibility of keeping people safe, providing what our citizens need, being the type of leader who is willing to listen to everyone—that’s what I’ve enjoyed about being mayor,” he says. J U LY 2 0 2 0 L I B E R T Y H I L L D I G ES T
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JOSH AND ELLEN MCGINTY AGAPE JAVA Josh and Ellen McGinty have seen much of the world, but are happy to live and share the comforts of a quality coffee house with the good people of Liberty Hill. 3610 Ranch Rd 1869 • Open 7am-6pm • agapejava.com
How does Texas measure up to the places you’ve visited? We are both from Texas; and there is nothing anywhere in the world like the special pride of independence and fighting spirit here. I think the word that describes it best is ‘neighborly.’ Texans have a wonderful attitude about helping people; in fact, during these last few months, people have regularly come in to donate as many as 100 coffees that we are happy to deliver to health care workers, day care centers, and first responders. We love being a part of that.
Do you have any bucket list places you’d still like to visit? Right now we are looking forward to a ski and a beach vacation. We had to cancel a few trips this year, but travel has always been important. We went to the Grand Canyon for our honeymoon and it’s been a priority ever since. Our HUGE desire is to attend an F1 race in Monaco!
What is special about Agapé Java? Above all, everything here is about showing God’s love to every person who comes through the door, no matter their look or their mood. We are not affiliated with a church; we’re just a place where you feel welcome and loved, and can enjoy a quiet moment. I probably know a hundred customers by name and it’s wonderful to see people come in and, rather than sit at a table and read, they reach out and become friends. It’s all about relationships. The coffee is special because we were coffee haters for much of our lives, until we were on a trip to Austria and the Lufthansa folks showed us how coffee is done right. We were hooked at that point. Ellen went to a barista school and an academy course in San Diego. Later, we purchased her family home and turned it into a place we can share with coffee lovers. We also have plenty of comfort food and we are here for wine and tea lovers as well; Ellen even sets up a special High Tea at Christmas, complete with five sets of fine china.
Is there anything better than a comfortable chair, warm coffee, and a moment of meditation? Actually, yes. Our backyard has a wonderful canopy of 300-year-old oak trees and we often invite people to spend time “under the oaks” listen to live music, bring their kids to play, or just enjoy the peace of the moment in a beautiful spot.
Do you have plans to share Agapé Java? We share a great desire to visit other places and replicate the feel of our coffee house in local small churches. Many churches have cafés, but the coffee seems to be incidental. We think it’s possible to have both—an amazing and comfortable place where you can come for great coffee and stay for the Bible study. There’s no reason the coffee and the comfy chairs shouldn’t add to your overall enjoyment and desire to be there. 6
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by Charlotte Kovalchuk • Photos courtesy of Hope House
Hope For A Lifetime
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e are fortunate to live in a time and place in which some of the most vulnerable among us—people with special needs—are cared for and respected. Not only do these individuals have the benefit of vocational programs like Brookwood in Georgetown (BiG), and fun parks like Morgan’s Wonderland, they also have permanent residence at places like Hope House. What makes Hope House special is that so few loving homes exist for people with severe disabilities.
“There just aren’t enough Hope Houses,” development director Erland Schulze says. “There are enough places for them to stay permanently in institutions, yes. But Hope House is not like that; it never has been.”
SECRET ROOTS In generations past, special needs children and adults faced a different world, particularly in World War II Germany. Fortunately, there were also a few nonconformists who helped those who could not speak for themselves. One such champion was a nurse named Rose McGarrigle, who learned at a young age that disabled often meant disposable. Rose worked for a German psychiatrist at a facility for mentally challenged children he had spared from the Nazi regime during the war. That brief but profound experience led her to develop ideas about the care of disabled children that were way ahead of her time. She started a home
Hope House staff helps Mark participate in“normal” activities that many of us take for granted.
for children with severe disabilities, and cared for them in secret. Sadly, the children were eventually found and taken away. Undaunted, Rose did not give up on her calling. She married an American and when their family relocated to Austin, she continued her mission by converting her garage into a home filled with music and toys for kids with disabilities. She later took some into her home, where they lived side by side with her own children until the pilot program outgrew her residence. One of her neighbors, inspired by her efforts, donated land on the outskirts of Liberty Hill and, in 1977, the community stepped up to raise funds for a house, which became the first Hope House.
HOPE HOUSE TODAY More than 50 years have passed since Rose launched her program, and her original children are still being cared for, along with some new friends. Rose continued caring for residents, personally, until her death in 2003,
Rose McGarrigle started Hope House’s first location where these special kids can live full, active lives on the outskirts of Liberty Hill.
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Visit Hope House at
www.hopehouseaustin.org and make Hope House residents“your kids,” too.
upon which the baton was passed to her assistant, Ginger Hernandez, and current Executive Director, David Gould. While providing for the care of these precious residents is important, the real beauty of Hope House is that rather than being confined to beds or restrained, residents play outside, enjoy arts and crafts activities, and embark on all kinds of adventures. They travel together to inclusive parks, zoos, aquariums, and even Dairy Queen for lunch. Children also attend special needs programs at schools in Liberty Hill.
Mark enjoys an afternoon at Morgan’s Wonderland, an accessible theme park in San Antonio.
“We provide a home for them and treat them like a family,” Erland says. “We try to give them the loving care and respect they deserve so they can live as normal a life as possible.”
Specialized transportation is essential to the Hope House mission.
Long-term care at Hope House literally means “for a lifetime.” Many of the children who came to the House more than 50 years ago are living there today as senior citizens. In light of this lifetime commitment, building more homes is the only way they can reasonably accommodate individuals on their growing waitlist. But, large or small, all help is welcome to support many special projects not funded through their annual budget. Hope House is always looking for volunteers as well, whether you want to build a picnic table, bake cookies, play in their golf tournament, or spend quality time with their special residents. The staff at Hope House promises volunteers the experience will be deeply rewarding and will generate a profound sense of gratitude.
Over the years, citizens have bonded while growing up together, and many dedicated staff members have also stayed for a long time, some more than 30 years. Thanks to Hope House, people with severe disabilities have a family for life and a forever home.
HOW TO HELP Hope House is able to maintain operations via tuition, fees, and tax-deductible donations, but there is always a need for more. As the population of the Austin metro area grows, so too does the demand for additional spaces for those in need of a safe and loving home. Rose’s legacy currently provides permanent homes at four locations in Liberty Hill for 35 people of all ages on a spectrum of extreme mental and physical disabilities. Nearly all residents are unable to speak and need 24/7 care for every function.
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home & garden
by Charlotte Kovalchuk & Ann Marie Kennon
Solutions for the Stay-at-home Lifestyle
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e’ve all been home a lot this year and, even now, we’re contemplating a future in which we continue to spend more time staying home. In light of these changes, many of us have found ourselves taking a closer look at our surroundings than we did in our busy, pre-pandemic lives. Local design experts Jason Daugherty (Omnia Outdoors) and Nicole Fine (Nicole R Designs) shared their expertise about emerging trends, taking advantage of opportunities to talk about changes to our living spaces, and some ideas about enjoying life at home together.
INTERIOR THOUGHTS You might find yourself working from home and need to turn your dining room into an office. Or you notice the flooring looks old and worn. Maybe the walls need new paint. You decide it’s time to spruce up your living quarters, but how and where to start? Whether you want a full remodel or need some updates, Nicole Fine has some philosophy and ideas about transforming your indoors with do-it-yourself projects.
DIY DESIGN PROJECTS NIcole says, “Let’s talk feature walls. They are low budget with a huge impact. It’s one of my favorite ways to transform any space.” Statement walls (left/center) are great in entry ways, laundry rooms, nooks & alcoves, bathroom walls, and
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bedroom walls. When trying to decide which area to tackle first she suggests picking an area you see daily or a space that feels like it could use some new life without an entire makeover. She adds that it is no surprise that shiplap (bottom right) is a fan favorite. It is versatile and timeless. Fairly easy to install and inexpensive.
PRO TIP Measure twice cut once. Home Depot or Lowe’s offers a cutting service take advantage. When you have all your supplies prepped and prepared before you start your DIY project, you’re more likely going to find success.
PROJECTS Updating surfaces in the kitchen such as countertops and backsplash, and update appliances, if needed. Change out countertops and plumbing fixtures in bathrooms. Replace framed shower glass with clear frameless glass. Replace dated or worn flooring. Change out lighting fixtures, which can transform the whole style of a home. Replace dated hardware such as cabinet pulls, towel bars and door hardware. Paint walls, trim and cabinets.
A sample of Jason’s vision for outdoor living spaces. Warm lighting and ottomans not only provide comfort, but also conversation spaces and perimeters for entertainment areas.
THINKING “OUTSIDE” Jason Daugherty is the owner and designer of Omnia Outdoors (OmniaOutdoors.com), with a solid philosophy on creating a seamless transition from your interior style and comfort level to your outdoor envirionment. “When I visit a client, just walking from the front door to the back, I notice the textures and style of everything from their furniture to their kitchen backsplash. I imagine all the ways I can extend that look and feel into a monolithic design from interior to exterior.” Jason says current trends include incorporating hard and softscapes together—many people are expanding their patio space, and also adding herb gardens. Even more basic, you can add a second grill; charcoal for entertaining and a propane for day-to-day. For comfort, outdoor furniture has become more comprehensive; not just a few lawn chairs, but something that reflects the home interior. Adding potted plants will re-create the homey feel, and, he adds, “landscape lighting can go a long way to adding a soft warm feel to your space. Most people use 2700 lumen lighting inside; having that soft look outside extends the warmth of your home. It also helps create greater perimeter security.”
A NEW VISION Jason recommends homeowners looking to make a change take a look around their interior and think of ways to re-create the same−but outside. “People who worked a lot now have time to discuss the possibilities, and having a designer will help them figure out their
vision. They may not be sure what they want, but they always know what they like. Great change is not always about a pool or outdoor kitchen; we just aim for that seamless transition from landscaping, beds, plants, and furniture, all the way into the house. A homeowner’s goal should be to bridge that gap, recognizing that it’s not just the purview of resorts or the wealthy to have cool entertaining spaces.”
EXPERT ASSISTANCE Jason says the goal is to blend landscapes and interior to create more livable square footage in the home space. “Your home is not just inside your house; it’s everything from your back fence to your driveway. Ideally, everything in between reflects your personality and your comfort level.” Even home design is beginning to reflect this trend. Builders are looking at how people live today and designing new homes accordingly. “We don’t all want 3,000-5,000 square feet any more; we are expanding decking and outdoor living for entertainment, and cutting back on the footprint the house makes on the property. There is a lot of potential for having beautiful views, breathing room, and a comfortable space in which to spend all our new time at home.” With plenty of options—from DIY to construction—having experts like Jason can help your vision take shape and reveal the sanctuary that was in your backyard all along. “It’s important to plan, pull your aesthetic elements together, and see all that is possible.” J U LY 2 0 2 0 L I B E R T Y H I L L D I G ES T
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healthy habits
by Charlotte Kovalchuk
Good Habits Aren’t Just for Pandemics
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ou’ve probably been bombarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s handwashing campaign in recent months. But considering the many other viruses that have always been around, you might wonder, shouldn’t people practice good health habits all the time, not just during a pandemic? Deb Strahler with the Williamson County and Cities Health District provided some tips on staying healthy all the time. “Every day, you come into contact with millions of outside germs and viruses,” she says. “They can linger on your body, and in some cases, they may make you sick. Personal hygiene practices can help you and the people around you prevent illnesses all year long.” Following are some things not to be overlooked in our daily lives—even while we’re focused on temporal concerns like masks and distancing—and perhaps should continue doing even after the current crisis. For more information about staying healthy throughout the year, visit cdc.gov/HealthyLiving. Cleaning and disinfecting are not the same thing. Cleaning removes germs from surfaces, whereas disinfecting destroys them. Cleaning with soap and water to remove dirt and most of the germs is usually enough. Often, you may want to disinfect for an extra level of protection from germs. In some instances, germs live on surfaces for hours or days.
Refilling a disposable plastic water bottle too often, or a reusable bottle without washing it may result in large amounts of bacteria—including E. coli. Over time, chemicals leach from dirty plastic bottles and can lead to more serious conditions.
EVERYONE ELSE DOES IT If you’re touching fixtures or multi-use items in public, a lot of other people are too. While hand wipes are hard to come by right now, keep in mind... Using gloves is only helpful as long as you change them between surface touches. Otherwise, you are just transferring bacteria from one location to another. If your restaurant does not use single-use paper menus, request a cleaned one. Shopping cart handles carry Salmonella, and E. Coli, and other organisms. (Univ. of AZ studies) A study by the maker of Kleenex found 71% of gas pump handles were found to have high levels of contamination. If you don’t have gloves or wipes, grab a paper towel from the window washing stand. We already know our bills and coins are not clean, but ATMs are also covered in microbes from human skin, similar to those found in bathrooms. It is best to disinfect after using rather than wiping the keyboard first and potentially transferring germs to your finger. For less than $100, a handheld, portable UVC light device will deactivate bacteria, viruses, and fungi on surfaces (do not use on skin). If those don’t convince you, (from State Food Safety)...
Consider hanging clothes in the sun to dry. The sun’s rays will kill some germs and parasites.
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Toilet seat: 1,201 bacteria / square inch
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Kitchen counter: 1,736 bacteria / square inch
Sharing bath towels can spread or transfer germs and bacteria. If someone in the household is ill, keep those towels and cloths separate.
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Pet food dish: 2,110 bacteria / square inch
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Checkout screen: 4,500 bacteria / square inch
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Doorknob: 8,643 bacteria / square inch
Wash your sheets frequently. Bacteria multiply rapidly in unwashed bed sheets—and pajamas and clothing— which can lead to infections.
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Cell phone: 25,127 bacteria / square inch
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WHAT MAKES TEXAS “TEXAS”?
part 1
Retired and Hall of Fame Texas Ranger Lt. Matt Lindemann in 2017. Photo by Carol Hutchinson.
by Ann Marie Kennon
what makes texas “texas” LT. MATT LINDEMANN RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE DIVISION, AFTER 21-1/2 YEARS AS A RANGER; HE CONTINUES TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE TO WILLIAMSON COUNTY AS AN INVESTIGATOR.
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ou don’t have to live in Texas to know about Texas Rangers. The great reverence given these elite, iconic law enforcement officers merely starts in Texas and reaches around the world. This division of the Texas Department of Public Safety was founded in 1823 to investigate crimes, protect the border, and mitigate trouble in the “wild west” that pre-dated Texas’ statehood and continues to capture the imagination.
MATT’S STORY As a young man, Lt. Lindemann wanted to be a firefighter but was eager to start a career. When the chief of police in Bartlett offered to sponsor him at a law enforcement academy and carry his commission after graduation, he jumped at the opportunity. “I went to college in Killeen then went to work at the Williamson County jail. It was so much more like Mayberry then; there were about 35 employees and maybe 100 inmates. At times, I and one other officer ran the whole jail—two teenagers—I can’t imagine that today.” Matt says working in a jail is great experience because handling inmates is an education on trying to keep people happy without giving them what they want. “It all comes down to treating them like human beings.” He says he met a Texas Ranger for the first time when two officers brought Henry Lee Lucas to the jail, and that meeting was a big part of what led him to want to be a Ranger himself. “They were taking Lucas all over the country and I thought, ‘Wow, these guys must be really important.’”
MAKING THE TEAM When Matt joined the Rangers, there was a test given only once a year; they never needed to recruit. Sometimes hundreds of applicants vied for one or two positions. “More than two openings was exorbitant because once someone promotes to the Rangers, they pretty much stay until they retire.“ He adds, there is no such thing as a “rookie” Ranger. While it used to be standard to have a Bachelor’s degree, many have Master’s and even Ph.D.s, plus at least
eight years of law enforcement experience. Most applicants come into DPS as Troopers and serve again before they can apply to be a Ranger. “Modern credentials are the best in the field of law enforcement.” He says today’s noble guardians remain a division of the Department of Public Safety and are authorized to work anywhere in Texas. Because the division has only 170 or so members at any given time, they limit their work to major felony crimes. Matt himself worked a kidnapping in which Rangers used modern technology, old-fashioned footwork, and, in collaboration with the FBI, found and rescued the victim without turning over ransom. Rangers may participate in any criminal investigation, particularly those involving elected officials or department heads. “When someone lodges a complaint of that nature, they will call in the Texas Rangers because we are authorized at the state level and are removed from the situation. You wouldn’t want a local agency investigating its own chief or commissioner. Local law enforcement agencies also call to investigate officer-involved shootings. When an agency investigates its own, it can get dragged out or languish in the media. When the Rangers step in, we investigate, present to the grand jury, and that’d be the end of it.”
TRUE LEGENDS AND POP CULTURE The Texas Rangers are the oldest serving state law enforcement division in North America, and have served under five different national flags. This longevity is partially due to the group’s ability to adapt into whatever the state needed as it grew and modernized. Consequently, they have been written into the 7th grade history curriculum state-wide. They started out as a frontier militia group, protecting settlers from raids. They fought in the War for Texas Independence, and in the 1870s, when towns became more prevalent and populated, they investigated crimes like cattle theft and murder. When oil strikes began and as the boom hit, towns got organized. They typically called the governor and asked for some Texas Rangers immediately. Fast forward to J U LY 2 0 2 0 L I B E R T Y H I L L D I G ES T
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the 1930s and the rise of organized crime. The Texas Rangers adapted from chasing people on horseback, to V-8 automobiles, including the one Bonnie and Clyde were driving when the Rangers ended their crime spree. The Texas Rangers are also the nation’s oldest entertainment franchise. Since 1933, when “The Lone Ranger” radio show was broadcast in Detroit, there have been 214 movies, seven TV shows, and they have also been the most popular comic book series in Italy since 1947. Episodes of “The Lone Ranger” television show are still aired in Moscow. Chuck Norris is an honorary Ranger, as are John Wayne, Robert Duvall, and George H.W. Bush. The museum has hosted Russian Ambassadors, Kyrgystani bankers; and President Bush had it on speed-dial from Crawford. “There is a great reverence for these men and women,” Byron says. “A young Ranger came for the annual reunion, and while he was proud of his accomplishment, he said he was really not prepared to become an icon; strangers had already begun asking him for his autograph.” THE TEXAS RANGER MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND (SCHEDULE MAY BE IMPACTED DUE TO COVID)
I-35 EXIT 335B IN WACO • ADMISSION $8 Visit the museum to wonder at the stereotypes and the reality. There is more than a day’s learning about the team that has the credibility of Interpol, a two-century mix of history, and great esprit de corps that makes the Rangers the best the state has to offer.
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belle chimes in
Is it just me...? I
am not much for controversy, so I’m just going to noodle on some boring things that make me roll my eyes from time to time (and sometimes make me sound like I’m preparing a stand-up routine). For instance, what exactly is a “normal” call volume for customer service at, literally, every large company in America? I have not dialed an 800 number in the past three years that the recording did not immediately open with: “We are experiencing higher-than-normal call volume, so your wait time may be long. For faster service try our online chat feature”. Wouldn’t three straight years of higher-than-normal constitute a new normal... for which perhaps they might consider hiring another employee?! I called my TV provider at 6:30 in the morning and got that message. My bill is over $200 a month; what exactly are they spending that money on, since it’s clearly NOT more staff? Just get it over with and play the loopy digital music that is ironically interspersed with “Your call is important to us…” and DON’T tell me to try your online chat option, TV people! That bot actually texted back that my wait time was more than 60 minutes, which is why I called the 800 number in the first place. Is “Brian from Ohio” the only one answering the phones, ever? Also, can someone in the online world please stop making me choose the preset “very strong” password that looks like a cat walked across my keyboard? First of all, how do I know they aren’t cataloging their own suggestions and hacking my account the minute I enter my card number? Second, it’s none of their concern if I want to use “pookieface1968” because I can remember it. If it’s not safe, that’s on me and they don’t need to worry about it.
And while I’m at it, can you please stop making the X to get rid of a popup window so small that only a bald eagle sniper can click it accurately without accidentally clicking on the ad for pickle flavored toothpaste. While I’m in the Internet frame of mind, I know we’re not supposed to mess with our phones while we’re driving, so can someone please tell Apple to put, maybe, a 5-minute delay on Siri’s directions when I plug something in to my maps app? Seriously, I am pretty solid on how to get out of my neighborhood, so can we start the chitchat AFTER I “turn left out of driveway” and through, maybe the first three turns? Just give it a rest every 15 seconds interrupting my podcasts until I reach at least a major artery of some kind? I know... first-world problems...quit whining, Belle. Completely new topic. How is it, when I watch reality talent shows, there is always a cute little kid who says, “This has always been my dream…” Really? You shouldn’t even be up that late. You watched one season and suddenly being a headliner in Vegas is your new “lifelong” dream? You’re 8 years old... a year ago, you were watching SpongeBob and probably wanted to be a unicorn. Far be it from me to lampoon a child’s hopes, but seriously, I find statements about lifetime dreams much more believable from a 45-year-old who finally found the courage to move away from Ohio, to try show business, so he can leave his job in customer service. Just some of the things that make the real (and much more disheartening) problems in the world feel a little less in my face. Hope it makes someone smile to realize … no, it’s not just you either.
J U LY 2 0 2 0 L I B E R T Y H I L L D I G ES T
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food
Too Hot for Stovetop? Comfort food is easy when it’s cold outside, but can be challenging to stand over a stove or a fire in the heat of summer.
BACON BLEU CHICKEN SALAD INGREDIENTS • 2 cups spring salad mix • 1 small chicken breast • Pepper and Garlic Salt
Luckily, summer also brings fresh produce, and plenty of ideas for cool foods, light meals, and frozen drinks and treats.
• Italian seasoning • 1 rasher of bacon; cooked, chopped (a rasher is a “portion” so, depending on how much you like bacon, this can be one or ten slices!) • 1/3 cup candied pecans, coarsely chopped
These recipes focus on fresh items to create satisfying but not heavy dinners for hot summer days.
And... if you’re one of those jolly folks who celebrate “Christmas in July” or just want a non-traditional cold drink, you can have: FROZEN HOT COCOA Melt chocolate in a the microwave on half power, in 20 second increments, stirring until smooth. Once melted, stir in hot chocolate mix, sugar and a little bit of milk. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. In a blender, add some more milk, a few cups of ice, and the melted chocolate mixture. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately, topped with fresh whipped cream.
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• 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese or Gorgonzola • 1/2 cup ranch dressing • Optional salad veggies: cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions You can also use your favorite blue cheese dressing instead of ranch and crumbled cheese.
DIRECTIONS Lightly sprinkle both sides of each chicken breast with garlic salt, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Grill chicken breast and chop into bite-size pieces. Assemble all other ingredients into a bowl and toss.
WATERMELON GAZPACHO INGREDIENTS • 5 cups cubed watermelon (from 1 watermelon) • 1 cup peeled, seeded, and diced cucumber • 1/4 cup chopped red onion • 1/2 jalapeño chile, seeded and minced • 2 T apple cider vinegar 1 tsp kosher salt
DIRECTIONS Process watermelon, cucumber, onion, and jalapeño in a blender until smooth. Stir in vinegar and salt. Cover and chill at least 30 minutes. Serve in small bowls or glasses.
J U LY 2020 LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T
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