76537 LIFE

"76537 Life" is Q&A that is all about municipal details and information that will, over time, add to our knowledge base and help readers understand the differences living in various locations in Economic Jarrell. We will address things readers may like to know about the variables within.

Civics 101: What is on my ballot?

YOUR LOCAL VOTE COUNTS MORE

Next month, Jarrell has an opportunity to go to the polls again. Nationally, when there are no Presidential candidates, voter turnout is low. But, by percentage, residents have a lot better chance of making a difference on the City Council dais than they do in Washington DC.

Consider how much the President of the United States affects your life on any given day? The Governor? Senators and Representatives? Daily...they really don’t.

But there are also people who fix the potholes, build the stores, determine what your children will learn, and decide how your taxes are going to be spent. Those are the candidates who win and lose local elections, in off-cycle years, most often by less than 100 votes.

Citizens need to be aware, or remember, that it is the off-cycle, small elections that most directly and frequently affect their families and wallets; i.e., City Councils, School Boards, and Commissioners Courts determine the tax rates paid every year. Being involved and voting locally means finding out about planned projects and programs before they hit social media and it's too late to change the course of action.

Ponder this... do you prefer leaders to build for more retail and restaurants or to build more parks? That's a Council action that may actually change when or how often you go out or spend money in Jarrell.

Fortunately, you can read about candidates 24 hours a day on the Internet, and even see a photo of them so you know what they look like.

If you are a parent, and your kids go to school here, school board elections have a lot to do with the kinds of courses your kids can take, or the type of preparation and opportunities they will have for life beyond the 12th grade. That doesn't just hit close to home, that is home.

JARRELL SCHOOL BOARD

• Elected position with 3-year term limits; • Meetings once a month; special meetings as needed; • Candidate Place eligibility is based on residence;

SONTERRA MUD BOARD

WHICH OFFICES ARE ON MY BALLOT?

Many people ask, 'Why are some people on my ballot and not others?' The answer is based on geography and ad valorem taxes. Everyone in 76537 lives in Williamson County and pays property taxes to that entity to provide roads, services, and programs. Those who live in the Jarrell city limits pay taxes to the city and receive services from that municipal body. Therefore, they have a say in how those taxes are collected and spent when they vote for City

Council and Mayor. Those who live in Sonterra pay taxes to the MUD District and have the opportunity to vote for individuals who set that tax rate and spend that revenue for the benefit of that local area.

Everyone in the 76537 zip code pays the largest portion of their property taxes to the Jarrell ISD because all children attend school in this district. As such, all residents are eligible to vote for School

Board Trustee positions.

• Elected position with 4-year terms; • Meetings once a month and special meetings throughout the year; • Seats are at large; candidate must live within the Sonterra

MUD;

JARRELL CITY COUNCIL

• Elected position with 2-year term limits; • Meetings once a month and special meetings when needed • Seats are at large; candidate must live within the Jarrell city limits.

Many kickboxing gyms help people on their fitness journeys, whether for self defense, training for competition, or getting in the best shape of their lives. But not all of them are run by a retired kickboxing champion skilled in the ancient art of Muay Thai—considered the most powerful striking technique used by kickboxers and mixed martial artists around the world.

Kru (coach or trainer) Wrath’s passion for Muay Thai began when he realized he looked like he was in great shape from years of weightlifting, but he couldn’t touch his toes or run a mile. Watching a Muay Thai fight inspired him to master the technique and ultimately become an IKKC Heavyweight Muay Thai US Kickboxing Champion and trainer.

He now plans to bring his wealth of knowledge and experience to Jarrell to help others achieve their fitness, self-defense, and competition goals at Monster Makers Kickboxing, Boxing, and Fitness.

Known as the art of the eight limbs, Muay Thai uses 10 points of attack— fists, feet, shins, elbows, and knees—to act as weapons in combat, a fighting style used by the Thai military for centuries.

FIGHT FOR IT Start Your Fitness Journey at Monster Makers [ ]

MIGHTIER THAN A FIGHTER

Muay Thai does more than just make good fighters. “It’s a confidence builder and stress reliever, and it improves your overall health,” Kru Wrath says. “When you hit that bag or mitts, you forget about the hard day you had. It’s really hard to think about it when your arms are tired and you’re breathing heavily.”

ALL ARE WELCOME

Kru Wrath says not to worry about being in shape when you walk in; “I’ve had people of all sizes, shapes, and fitness levels and abilities. I can work with anybody.”

At Monster Makers, students learn the right way to kickbox. “It’s not just people wailing away at bags with no one correcting form or teaching how to do it properly. That won’t happen at my gym.”

GRAND OPENING

Monster Makers Kickboxing, Boxing, and Fitness welcomes everyone to celebrate its grand opening with kickboxing and boxing classes for folks ages 6 to 60 and a haunted house for kids Oct 30, 11am2pm at 200 County Road 606, Suite 3301 in Jarrell. They will also have a licensed massage therapist on site who trained in Thai Massage in Thailand. She will be offering 15 minute chair massages during the grand opening.

To sign up for classes, scan the code or contact 737-471-3414. During its first month, Monster Makers will offer active military, law enforcement, and firefighters 25 percent off a one-year membership.